Ruto allies hit back at Gachagua, dismiss claims of paid crowds in Mt Kenya

The leaders, led by Ruto’s long-time aide Farouk Kibet, instead accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of inciting the region against the Head of State.

The leaders insisted that the warm reception President Ruto received across the region was spontaneous and reflected his enduring support base in the area.

“When I was in Kirinyaga, I witnessed how people turned up in large numbers,” said Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii. “Central Kenya is fully behind the president. Those spreading malicious claims that the crowds were paid for are just bitter. How can you buy five million people? That’s simply not possible.”

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot echoed this sentiment, attributing the backlash to fearmongering by political detractors. “Kenyans saw the truth on TV—how warmly the president was welcomed in Mt. Kenya,” he said.

“Some of those now spreading fear are the same tribal demagogues we removed from office. They tried to sell lies that the president would be heckled or rejected, but none of that happened. That is the Kenya we want—united and forward-looking.”

Farouk Kibet was more direct in his criticism of Gachagua, accusing him of peddling ethnic rhetoric unfit for modern leadership. “You claim to want to lead this country, yet your language is divisive and tribal. That’s not the Kenya we’re building. Kenya belongs to all its people.”

Cheruiyot also claimed that Gachagua was attempting to recycle tactics he had learned from the very people now opposing him. “We were his teachers,” he said. “We trained him on how to attack others politically.

Now he’s trying to use the same tricks on us. We even coached him on what to say about Uhuru Kenyatta, and now he pretends to be the victim. Let him do the math and stop with this retail politics.”

Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi weighed in, urging Gachagua to abandon divisive rhetoric and focus on national cohesion. “When you preach hatred and tribal politics, you only hurt the nation,” Atandi said.

“We never thought President Ruto would invite us into government, but he has proven to be inclusive and focused on development.”

The president’s allies further emphasized the need for unity, calling on leaders to avoid stoking ethnic tensions for personal gain. Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse said the time had come to reject outdated politics of division.

“A few leaders continue to spread hate and tribalism, but their time is up. Kenya is moving on.”

Kesses MP Julius Rutto questioned the sincerity of Gachagua’s recent criticisms of government, pointing out his past role in Cabinet.

“Why didn’t he resign from Cabinet if what he’s saying now is true?” Rutto posed. “You can’t sit in a Cabinet that makes collective decisions and then turn around and accuse it of corruption. That’s hypocrisy.”

President Ruto concluded his week-long tour of Mt. Kenya to mixed reactions, but with a clear message that he intends to continue working with the region that played a pivotal role in his 2022 election victory.

His allies are framing the trip as a reaffirmation of his political strength and a rejection of tribal politics.