Rigathi Gachagua Addresses Embu Rally On Phone From US, Drums Up Support For His Party: "Mumeamua"
- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua phoned into a charged rally in Ishiara from the US, telling Mbeere North residents to reject UDA candidates in the upcoming by-election
- The Mbeere North seat, left vacant after Geoffrey Ruku’s Cabinet appointment, has become a political test ground where Gachagua seeks to gauge his influence
- Gachagua accused President William Ruto, whom he referred to by the nickname "Kasongo", of oppressing the region
- He urged voters to send a strong political message by rejecting UDA’s pick, saying such a move would win DCP respect nationally
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has addressed a rally on the phone from the United States, urging residents of Mbeere North to reject United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates in the upcoming by-election.
Source: Facebook
Addressing a charged crowd in Ishiara, Gachagua used the opportunity to drum up support for his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
"How are you... many greetings from here in America, have you received them? Are our people safe? Are you persevering even when things are hard? Even when Kasongo is squeezing us?" Gachagua began, using the nickname Kasongo that critics employ to refer to President William Ruto.
The Mbeere North seat fell vacant after the appointment of its former MP Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku to the Cabinet, triggering a by-election that has become a political battleground.
For Gachagua, the contest offers a platform to test his influence in Embu and the wider Mt Kenya East bloc, where UDA seeks to maintain a dominant presence.
Why is Mbeere North's vote crucial to Gachagua?
The former DP told residents he was aware they had gathered to start the process of finding a new MP and challenged them to pick a party “that listens to the ground”.
He warned it would be a “very big mistake” for Mbeere North voters to elect a UDA candidate after what he described as Ruto’s continued oppression.
"I have heard you have met there so we can start the journey of finding your new MP, right? Which party is that... the one that listens to the ground? Have you decided? I want to say that for the people of Mbeere North, it will be a very big mistake, after how Kasongo has oppressed us, to choose someone from UDA. Can you accept that?" he asked, his voice amplified through the rally’s sound system as residents responded in unison.
Gachagua singled out the UDA party's candidate, referring to him as "our child" but accusing Ruto of misusing him politically.
Source: Facebook
The DCP leader told the crowd that their decision in the by-election would send a political statement beyond Embu County.
He said rejecting UDA’s candidate would earn the new outfit respect and prove that residents were ready to resist what he called Ruto’s agenda.
"The people of Mbeere North, you are the ones who will earn us respect by rejecting Kasongo’s and UDA’s agenda, do we agree? I want you to prepare the ground well, so that when I return from America I will come. Is that MP of yours enough or not? … I thank you very much, our people," he added.
When will Gachagua return to Kenya?
As reported earlier, Cleo Malala, deputy leader of DCP, dared the government to arrest Gachagua upon his return to Kenya.
Speaking ahead of Gachagua’s arrival at the airport, Malala revealed that the party is mobilising 300,000 supporters to welcome him, complete with travel details like flight number and seat assignment made public.
He even declared the arrival day a public holiday.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
