National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s proposal for a political alliance bringing together Mt Kenya, Ukambani and Western Kenya, arguing that the region cannot secure victory in the 2027 General Election on its own.
Ichung’wah also criticised Gachagua’s remarks that he would relocate to the United States if President William Ruto won re-election, accusing some political leaders of promoting hatred instead of encouraging national unity.
Gachagua made the remarks on Sunday night during an interview with a local vernacular television station, where he outlined a possible three-region alliance to challenge Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
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Under the proposed arrangement, Mt Kenya would rally behind Gachagua, Ukambani would be represented by Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, while Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna would lead the Western Kenya bloc.
Gachagua argued that the combined voting strength of the three regions would be sufficient to defeat the President.
“Between I, Sifuna and Eugene Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka; the election is done,” Gachagua said.
Speaking in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County, on Monday, Ichung’wah dismissed the approach, saying political mobilisation should not be built around ethnic divisions.
“Now we are being sold hatred. I have heard some people saying, ‘When William Ruto is re-elected, I will go to the United States of America to stay there’,” he said.
He questioned the implications of such remarks for residents who do not have alternative homes abroad.
“Thank God, you have a house in America. Where will our children from Kiambu who don’t have houses go to?”
“Let us not sell hatred. That hatred we are being sold won’t help us,” he added.
The Majority Leader maintained that Mt Kenya needed the support of other communities to secure national political power, cautioning against the assumption that the region could independently determine the outcome of a presidential election.
“We must ask ourselves as a community. I know many will be pained and perceive me badly when I state this truth: We cannot turn by ourselves in this country alone. We need other Kenyans,” he said.
Ichung’wah also cited voter registration figures in Kiambu County to illustrate why Mt Kenya should not overestimate its political influence.
He said Kiambu had approximately 1.3 million registered voters, making it the leading county in the Mt Kenya region in terms of voter numbers and turnout.
However, he cautioned against assuming that all votes cast in the county belonged to the Kikuyu community.
“Out of those 1.3 million votes, almost 400,000 are non-Kikuyu or non-Mt Kenya communities. That is the truth,” he said.
His remarks come as political leaders continue to discuss possible alliances and strategies ahead of the 2027 General Election.