Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is facing growing political isolation as a wave of former allies distance themselves from his camp. The latest to break ranks is popular Kikuyu gospel artist Ngaruiya Junior, who has publicly criticized Gachagua for promoting divisive tribal politics and betraying the hopes of those who once supported him.
In a strongly worded statement, Ngaruiya, known for his high-energy Kigooco gospel performances, accused Gachagua of political deceit and manipulation. According to the artist, Gachagua has used the frustrations of ordinary Kenyans not to uplift them, but to build a political brand rooted in division and control.
“I stood with Gachagua before, during, and after his impeachment. We even formed a team to rally sympathy for him across the country,” Ngaruiya said. “But it later became clear to us that it was all a well-packaged lie to blindfold innocent Kenyans.”
His remarks underscore a growing sentiment within Mt. Kenya’s political class and civic leadership: that Gachagua’s style of leadership is no longer in tune with the region’s evolving needs. Several leaders, including Kimani Ngunjiri, Mary Wamaua, and Ngunjiri Wambugu, have also parted ways with him in recent months—an indication of deeper fractures in his political base.
Among the key grievances is Gachagua’s attempt to sabotage established Mt. Kenya political parties such as Jubilee, Narc-Kenya, and the Democratic Party. According to Ngaruiya, Gachagua privately admitted during a closed-door meeting that he was working to dismantle these parties to consolidate his grip on the region’s politics through his own outfit, DCP.
This centralizing approach has unsettled many in the region who view it as undemocratic and self-serving. The accusation of tribalism, meanwhile, continues to haunt Gachagua. His opponents claim that his political rhetoric has been overly focused on ethnic identity at the expense of national unity.
Ngaruiya also highlighted a culture of disrespect within the Gachagua camp. In a recent public outburst, the former DP allegedly dismissed the gospel artist as a “Class Two dropout”—an insult that Ngaruiya says symbolized deeper contempt for those who helped build Gachagua’s political capital.
“Stop treating Kenyans like your own children. I left because I refuse to be used. I stand for truth, not betrayal,” Ngaruiya said, adding that Mt. Kenya artists are now rallying behind Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, whom they describe as more inclusive and approachable.
