Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has cautioned Western Kenya residents against placing their trust in President William Ruto, claiming his recent visits to the region are politically motivated.
According to Gachagua, Ruto’s promises of development are a ploy to secure votes for his 2027 re-election bid, after which he would allegedly abandon the region.
Gachagua drew parallels with the Mount Kenya region, which he said was instrumental in Ruto’s 2022 election victory but has since been neglected.
“I want to tell the people of Western Kenya to be very careful and learn from us. The President was here for five years, spending six days a week in Mount Kenya. He convinced us to vote for him, but now, he no longer comes here because we know him. He deceived and conned us, and we’ve seen that script before,” Gachagua said.
President Ruto has made frequent visits to Western Kenya in recent months, launching various development projects, including industrial parks and last-mile electricity connectivity.
On January 20, Ruto toured the Mumias sub-county, where he met sugarcane farmers, promised to revive the struggling Mumias Sugar Company, and pledged incentives to boost productivity in the sugar belt.
While Ruto’s efforts have been welcomed by some, Gachagua insists they are politically motivated. “You are being wooed the same way he wooed the Mount Kenya region. He was in church every Sunday and knew every road by name. Now, he has disappeared because the people of Mount Kenya know him,” Gachagua said.
The warning comes amidst growing scrutiny over Ruto’s development agenda and its alignment with his political goals as the race for the 2027 elections begins to take shape.
