Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has rejected former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent appeal for regional unity, insisting it is too late to reconcile given Gachagua’s past exclusion of Mt Kenya East leaders from government appointments.

Gachagua had called Deputy President Kithure Kindiki "our son" and urged his supporters to cease attacks against him, suggesting that Kindiki has been unfairly treated within President William Ruto’s administration. However, Ruku challenged this narrative, pointing to Gachagua’s record when he led the Office of the Deputy President.

In a statement released on July 29, 2026, Ruku said, "It is too late to call us 'our sons'. We have the list of his appointees at the Office of the Deputy President before his impeachment. There are no 'our sons' in it. Just his sons." Though he did not disclose the list or names, the message accused Gachagua of favouring his own political base at the expense of Mt Kenya East leaders.

Ruku also criticised the political dominance of Mt Kenya West leaders, suggesting they have disproportionately benefited from state appointments and development projects, while expecting support from Embu, Meru, and Tharaka-Nithi counties without reciprocal backing.

He emphasized that if Mt Kenya West leaders continue to withhold support for Kindiki, Mt Kenya East should consider forging its own political direction. Ruku’s remarks highlight a deepening rift within the Mt Kenya bloc and question Gachagua’s leadership claims across the region.

Gachagua’s Shift Towards Kindiki

Recently, Gachagua urged his followers to stop attacking Deputy President Kindiki, affirming Kindiki’s place as a son of Mt Kenya and expressing willingness to welcome him back if he returns home.

He also acknowledged Kindiki’s difficulties within the current government, relating them to his own experience prior to his impeachment.

Despite this conciliatory tone, Ruku dismissed Gachagua’s olive branch, framing it as politically expedient rather than genuine reconciliation.

Implications for Mt Kenya Politics

  • Ruku’s rebuttal places Gachagua’s appointment record at the heart of the East-West regional dispute.
  • The exchange signals ongoing tensions between leaders allied to President Ruto and those in opposition seeking to unite Mt Kenya under a common political front.
  • It underscores the challenges of regional cohesion amid competing political interests and narratives.