Mt Kenya East Governor Races Expose Cracks in Gachagua’s Unity Push
The race to succeed governors in Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi is threatening to split Mt Kenya into two political blocs, complicating former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s plan to unite the region behind him ahead of 2027.
Mt Kenya East has 1,338,373 voters – Meru 772,573, Embu 334,684 and Tharaka Nithi 231,966 – representing 6.1% of the national vote. Mt Kenya West – Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Nyandarua – has 3,114,735 voters. Combined, the Mountain has over 4.45 million votes.
That arithmetic is at the heart of the current row. Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku has been leading calls for the East to break away from the West, arguing the East has always been treated as a junior partner.
“We as Mt. Kenya East do not care what happens in Mt. Kenya West,” Ruku posted, adding in another post “We don’t care! We’re Mt. Kenya East!” and “Mambo ya West kutukulia kwa mfuko kama njugu karanga imekwisha.”
In Igembe, Ruku went further: “I want to categorically state that Merus are not Kikuyus… The time has come; we divorce as a mountain because if you do not support our son Kithure Kindiki and we have supported you all along, then clearly let’s split the mountain.”
His stance has drawn sharp rebuke. Energy PS Alex Wachira insisted the Mountain’s strength has always been unity, citing how the East benefited during former President Mwai Kibaki’s era through appointments of Njeru Ndwiga, Kiraitu Murungi, David Mwiraria and Francis Muthaura.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has also rejected the split, urging moderation. “We are together. We are one community and one country, and we have no other home to go to,” he said.
In an unexpected turn, Gachagua backed Kindiki. “Kindiki made a statement which made me happy. Yesterday, he said the Mountain was one and should not be divided. For what it’s worth, you are right because the only way Ruto can come back as President is if the Mountain is divided,” Gachagua said.
Political analysts say Gachagua’s entire 2027 strategy depends on presenting Mt Kenya as one united constituency. If Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi embrace a separate identity under Ruto-allied leaders, his influence would diminish considerably. Instead of commanding one bloc, he would have to compete with another power centre led by Kindiki.
For President William Ruto, the division is an opportunity. Should the eastern counties identify with Kindiki while sections of the West remain aligned to Gachagua, the President could retain significant support within the broader region despite deteriorating relations with some western counties.
With five formations now fighting for Mt Kenya East – Kindiki, Gachagua, Jubilee’s Fred Matiang’i, Anne Waiguru and Kawira Mwangaza – the governor races have become the new battleground for who speaks for the Mountain.
