Gachagua Dismisses Tribalism Tag, Accuses Ruto of Crafting Political Narratives

By; Immanuel Kyengo

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims that he is a tribal leader, insisting that the label is a political narrative crafted by President William Ruto following their fallout.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on The Explainer Show with Yvonne Okwara on Citizen TV Tuesday night, Gachagua said his politics have always been national rather than tribal. He accused President Ruto of shifting goalposts and tarnishing his reputation in order to weaken his influence in the Mt. Kenya region.

“President Ruto is a master of narratives. When we were allies, he praised me for my organizational skills. But after our fallout, he quickly branded me a tribalist to justify sidelining me,” Gachagua said.

The former Deputy President emphasized that while he has deep respect and loyalty for his community, he has never spoken negatively about any other ethnic group. He pointed to the 2022 General Election as proof that Mt. Kenya voters are not tribal.

“My people voted overwhelmingly for Ruto — 87 percent — while the rest supported Raila Odinga. They did not give that vote to a kinsman. That shows we are not tribal,” he said.

Gachagua further challenged President Ruto and his allies to provide evidence of him making tribal or divisive remarks.

“I challenge anyone to produce a video or recording where I have insulted or demeaned another community. There is none, because I have never done it,” he maintained.

He also accused the government of running propaganda campaigns to isolate him, arguing that the tribalism tag was designed to erode his standing in national politics.