The recent removal of Rigathi Gachagua from his role as Deputy President has intensified discussions on forming a political party solely for the Mount Kenya region.
Political leaders argue that the former Mathira MP’s downfall was partly due to the region’s direct support for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) without leveraging their own regional party.
Amid divisions between West and East Mount Kenya, UDA now faces the challenge of regaining the region’s trust ahead of the next general election.
Talks of a dedicated Mount Kenya party began earlier this year, following reports that Gachagua had shown interest in acquiring The New Democrats (TND) party as his relations with President William Ruto began to sour.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, a close ally of Gachagua, recently expressed regret over not joining Ruto through a regional political party in 2022.
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“There are several Mount Kenya-rooted parties. If necessary, we can rejoin one of the parties we left, like Jubilee, rather than being solely in UDA,” said Kahiga in August 2024.

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has also urged Mount Kenya residents to consolidate around a regional party, especially following Ruto’s appointment of leaders from the opposition ODM party to his Cabinet.
“Mount Kenya must support a presidential candidate on our own party’s ticket in 2027. If there are negotiations, they should be conducted under our own umbrella,” Waititu insisted.
Recently, Gachagua himself accused President Ruto of betrayal for allowing his removal from office, claiming that he had played a crucial role in helping Ruto win the 2022 election.
“When we formed UDA, I trusted Ruto, but others called for a formal agreement with him. It’s disheartening that Ruto would let me down like this,” Gachagua said.
Former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi has also voiced support for establishing a regional party to protect Mount Kenya’s interests.
“We must create our own base and prepare strategically. Let’s avoid joining others’ parties where we could be sidelined,” stated Linturi.
Peter Munya, PNU party leader and former Meru Governor, echoed this sentiment, arguing that Gachagua’s ouster underscores the importance of having a dedicated party.
“Gachagua’s removal teaches us a vital lesson: when you’re in someone else’s house, you can be thrown out at any time,” said Munya, emphasizing PNU’s ongoing role in representing regional interests.
With Gachagua’s exit, Interior CS Professor Kithure Kindiki now stands as the highest-ranking government official from Mount Kenya.
However, despite receiving praise for his previous role in the security sector, Kindiki faces the challenge of calming the frustrations of the region’s leaders and constituents, many of whom remain influenced by Gachagua’s leadership.