- The DP had after the polls accused Uhuru imposing Raila on the region yet he had made an agreement to back Ruto.
- He accused the retired President of persecuting him and using the criminal justice system to frustrate him when he decided to support Ruto.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that he will be reaching out to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to bury the hatchet for the sake of Mt Kenya unity.
Gachagua is seen as the region's political kingpin given his seniority in government, but a vicious political war is roiling Mt Kenya over who is Uhuru's de facto successor.
The DP, who has previously launched attacks on Uhuru, said he has resolved to work out a plan to unite the community and heal the 2022 elections wounds.
"Kenyatta was fronting Raila Odinga for the presidency and he lost. We have now decided to embrace him as our respectable son and statesman despite everything,” Gachagua said in an interview with Inooro Radio on Friday.
"As Mt Kenya leaders, we have agreed not to be fighting him and I'm planning to hold talks with him. I have ordered everyone to respect him and he is also doing good to keep his peace."
However, despite indications of turf wars for the region's political baton, Gachagua said on Friday the mountain is stable, peaceful and united as before.
"It is the media that is trying to portray a rift between the leaders of the mountain. I will lead from the front in ensuring that the leadership of the mountain continues holding together and will bring on board every leader from the region," he said.
The DP had after the polls accused Uhuru of imposing Raila on the region yet he had made an agreement to back Ruto.
He accused the retired President of persecuting him and using the criminal justice system to frustrate him when he decided to support Ruto.
At some point, Gachagua blamed Uhuru of sending security officers to humiliate and arrest him from his Mathira home ahead of the 2022 polls.
On Friday, Gachagua said he has directed leaders from the Mt Kenya region to respect Uhuru and his family saying that would be the way going forward.
During the campaigns, President Ruto's allies from the region hurled abuses at the former First Family including attacks directed at Mama Ngina.
After the polls, a raid at the Kenyatta family-linked Northlands farm along Southern Bypass was linked to some Kenya Kwanza politicians who were blamed for hiring goons.
The DP warned on Friday of what he termed as a looming disintegration of the region unless its leaders unite.
"I will be sponsoring a golf tournament in Nyeri on October 21, 2023 bringing together our tycoons to raise substance abuse rehabilitation kitty for Mt Kenya addicts so that they can be reclaimed to procreate and boost our numbers. It is part of unity talks that I'm holding across the region,” he said.
The DP said he will remain loyal to President William Ruto.
"I will remain loyal to President William Ruto. I will submit myself to him and we will soldier on these remaining years towards 2027 and God willing, come back together to the voters to together seek a second term," he said.