Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s audacious claim that he commands the loyalty of 7.1 million Kikuyu voters ahead of the 2027 polls has ignited a storm of ridicule and rejection across Mt Kenya.
Gachagua, who now leads the fledgling Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), made the boast during a series of homecoming rallies, framing himself as the region’s undisputed kingmaker. But his declaration has backfired, sparking a fierce pushback from voters and opinion leaders who dismissed the numbers as “pure fantasy” and a desperate ploy for political relevance.
Online, the backlash has exploded under hashtags such as #7MItokeWapi (“Where are the 7 million?”) and #ToaYangu (“Remove mine”), with residents explicitly withdrawing their votes from Gachagua’s tally. “Mt Kenya cannot be reduced to one man’s delusions,” wrote one influencer. Another post branded the figure “empty political noise,” insisting the region had already “moved on.”
Analysts argue the boast highlights Gachagua’s miscalculation in portraying Mt Kenya as a monolithic bloc. “Who gave him permission to speak for all of us? My vote is mine,” fumed one X user, underscoring the principle of individual choice. The popular refrain “Murima Hatupangwingwi” (“We don’t fight each other”) has become a rallying cry against what critics see as his divisive chest-thumping.
The uproar casts fresh doubt on Gachagua’s 2027 path, with observers warning that inflating numbers risks alienating an already fractured base. Instead of uniting the region, his claim appears to have deepened skepticism about his leadership.
As one analyst summed it up: “Mt Kenya wants authentic leadership, not manufactured figures.”
