Rigathi Gachagua is increasingly showing that his politics is about control, not unity. Instead of allowing many leaders from Mt Kenya to grow and compete fairly, he appears determined to remain the only dominant voice in the region. He wants to be the main negotiator in and out of government, the one who decides who rises and who doesn’t.
His open fights with Kithure Kindiki make this clear. Kindiki is now Deputy President, and that reality seems to bother Gachagua. Rather than supporting another leader from Mt Kenya holding a top office, he appears uncomfortable sharing influence. The issue looks less about policy and more about seniority and control.
Gachagua was impeached and cannot run for president. Since then, he has been going around saying Mt Kenya is not interested in the presidency, only influence. But would he be saying the same thing if he was still eligible to run? Many people doubt it. His message sounds more like a strategy to remain politically relevant and central to every negotiation involving the region.
Mt Kenya is not short of capable leaders. Figures like Martha Karua have national experience and can serve as president or deputy president. But Gachagua’s approach leaves little room for others to shine. He seems more interested in being the only top politician from the region so he can negotiate power, jobs, and opportunities through himself.
This kind of politics is risky. When one person tries to control everything, the region becomes dependent on that individual. If he weakens or loses influence, Mt Kenya could find itself isolated and disadvantaged. True leadership builds many strong voices, not just one. If Gachagua continues on this path, he may end up weakening the very region he claims to defend.
