Gachagua's 'Murima first' rhetoric haunts him in US tour

During his engagement with Kenyans residing in Baltimore on July 27, Gachagua was put in a nail-biting situation, as youths grilled him on his political endeavor ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Valentine Wanjiru Githae, who introduced herself as a representative of the youth-led 625 Movement, called out Gachagua for advancing a divisive rhetoric that has propped up the Kikuyu community.

"If we position ourselves as Kikuyus, another tribe will also do that, and before we know it, we are back to the same problem. We cannot say that people from other tribes are not hardworking. We have that sense of entitlement as Kikuyus, and it has to stop," she said.

"If we GenZs don't understand the mountain narrative how are you going to engage us and find a way to position this politics beyond the 'Wantam' narrative. The politics being done now is the way it was done 20 years ago and that is what is scaring us."

Gachagua responded by saying that he believes there is a "persecution and discrimination" of Kenyans from the Mt.Kenya region and swift action should be taken to cushion them.

He asserted that the GenZs are a formidable force and they "will help us deal with that nonsense because they are tribeless and fearless".

Another young man questioned why Gachagua should be trusted despite being part of the government, which he vehemently defended before being impeached.

He was also asked why Kenyans should trust the political leaders who are partnering with him on the opposition front, who have been part of the deeply-rooted political vices for eons.

"In one way or another, each of them have had backroom deals in the past to funnel their own agendas. As young adults we don't want a repeat and a recycling of the same tyrants," the young man said.

He further posed: "Why should we trust your judgement in 2027 if it is what gave us Ruto?"

Gachagua noted that the campaign space is open to young people, urging them to front their preferred candidate who they believe will change the nation.

"Kenyans will choose among those who will come up. The new blood must offer themselves for leadership. Let them come up," Gachagua responded.

He further admitted that he made an ill judgment by supporting President William Ruto before securing victory in the 2022 polls, noting that he has attempted to distance himself from the rot in the ruling administration.

"In my community, there is a saying that making a mistake is not bad, what is unacceptable is making the same mistake. The people will make a decision on whether they can trust me or not, depending on how I have acted on where I needed to stand with the truth or comfort," he said.

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has previously accused President Ruto of profiling Kikuyus in the 2007 post-election violence, and is set to finish his mission during his tenure as president. 

“History is repeating itself, and the architect William Ruto is back on the deck. He is hell bent to finish his unfinished business with the people of Mt. Kenya. Destroy their businesses and make them black sheep of Kenya,” stated Gachagua on July 9.

His tribal sentiments have been met with harsh ridicule from political leaders and President Ruto's henchmen.

His meet-the-people tour is, however, making him attuned to the demands of the majority of Kenyans, as many still question his unwanted political rhetoric.

Many have urged him to embrace diversity and focus on discussing substantial national matters and avoid holding the aged political talk of tribal politics.

So far, Gachagua has visited Boston, Massachusetts and Seattle where he held several town hall meetings to promote his agenda for the diaspora community.