WAIKENDA: DP Gachagua speaks for Mt Kenya

I am a devout student of politics and history, and of late, I have taken a keen interest in studying Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. He has unfortunately been attacked from all quarters, with everyone judging his competence and relevance in light of his 'shareholders' remarks.

First, it’s important to acknowledge that Mt Kenya's 10 counties contributed 2.93 million votes directly to Kenya Kwanza’s victory. This is more than a third of all the votes that President William Ruto garnered in last year's election.

Gachagua could be seen by some as a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he is a powerful and influential politician in the Mt Kenya region. Being Ruto’s running mate was key to delivering almost three million votes from the region to Kenya Kwanza.

The Kenya Kwanza administration leads the country's more than 42 million Kenyans, including those who did not vote for it, and granted, development must be across every county.

Regardless, Mt Kenya has a right to demand its share of government and development, and anyone stating the contrary does not have the interests of the region at heart.

The former presidents all first considered those who supported them in the elections before sharing the national cake with those who did not. It is therefore not alien for the side that wins an election to share the spoils first.

Even outside Kenya, the play is the same. In the US when the Democrats or Republicans win the presidency, there is usually a surge of party affiliated appointments and policies favouring Democrat/Republican-leaning states.

That said, there is no doubt that President Ruto is focused on serving all Kenyans equally. Look at his recent trip to Nyanza. For a region that did not vote for him, Ruto has done well to ensure that Nyanza benefits from the Kenya Kwanza development agenda.

In the same way Nyanza’s debts of not voting for Kenya Kwanza were forgiven, the same focus must be placed on reviving the coffee and tea industry. This is what Gachagua has been saying and we must support him.

In my opinion, and with all things remaining constant, Gachagua is on track to become the Mt Kenya kingpin. As Bob Marley stated, we must emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. Let no one judge Gachagua for demanding the community’s rightful share of government.

Some people have criticised Gachagua's claim to the title of Mt Kenya kingpin. They argue that he is not a true representative of the region and that he does not have the support of all Mt Kenya people. They also point to his controversial past, which includes allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

Despite these criticisms, Gachagua remains a popular figure in Mt Kenya. He is seen by many people as a strong and capable leader who can deliver on his promises. Gachagua's supporters believe that he is the best person to represent the interests of  the region in the national government.

Gachagua is rightfully the Mt Kenya kingpin not only because he is a close ally of the President but also because he played a key role in Kenya Kwanza’s victory. Therefore, when he speaks, he is speaking for the millions of Mt Kenya voters who supported this government from election to inception.

The DP is also a strong advocate of the interests of Mt Kenya region. He has promised to bring development and prosperity to the region, and he has pledged to fight for the rights of the people.

Gachagua has a strong network of supporters in the region as he has built his political base over many years, and he has close ties to many influential people. His network of supporters gives him a great deal of power and influence in the region now and in Kenya Kwanza’s reelection plan.

Whether Rigathi Gachagua is the rightful Mt Kenya kingpin is a matter of opinion. However, there is no doubt that he is a powerful and influential politician in the region. Gachagua is likely to play a major role in Kenyan politics for many years to come.