"Make Up Your Mind, Tell the Kenyans the Truth” Kuria Hits Back After Gachagua Claims He Is Ruto's Wheelbarrow and Was Sent to Divide Mt Kenya Votes

Former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has strongly dismissed claims by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua that he is secretly working with President William Ruto to weaken the Mt Kenya vote.

The political tension between the two leaders escalated after Gachagua accused Kuria of helping the ruling party win the Mbeere North by-election by splitting votes meant for the United Opposition.

Gachagua said during a TV interview that Kuria’s party, Chama Cha Kazi (CCK), was used as a tool to destroy the United Opposition’s strategy in the by-election.

According to him, the opposition would have had a better chance if Kuria had withdrawn his candidate.

He claimed elders from Mbeere had urged him to drop his candidate from the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) because both candidates came from the same clan.

Gachagua said he stepped down for the sake of unity, believing the opposition would present one strong candidate. However, he insisted that Kuria ruined that plan by still fielding his party’s aspirant.

Gachagua went further, alleging that Kuria did not act independently. He claimed Kuria’s decision was influenced by President Ruto and that CCK had been “called” to interfere with the race. 

He argued that the votes CCK received would likely have gone to the United Opposition candidate and possibly changed the final result.

But Kuria refused to let the accusations pass. Speaking sharply, he accused Gachagua of giving contradictory information by blaming him while also claiming the election was stolen.

Kuria challenged him openly, saying the former deputy president can only address him in court. He also vowed to resist any attempt by Gachagua to make DCP the only powerful party in Mt Kenya.

Kuria insisted that other political outfits, including CCK, have the right to operate. He criticised Gachagua for repeatedly dismissing smaller parties as “wheelbarrows.” 

According to Kuria, such statements amount to trying to impose political control over the region.

He declared that no one would introduce a “one-party rule” in Mt Kenya under his watch. Kuria added he will join the petition filed by United Opposition candidate Newton Karish as an interested party, allowing Gachagua to respond to him through legal channels instead of on TV.

In the Mbeere North by-election, Leonard Wamuthende of UDA won with 15,802 votes, defeating Newton Karish, who had 15,308 votes. 

UDA celebrated the victory, calling it a sign that residents had chosen progress and rejected fear and intimidation. Wamuthende took over the seat left vacant after Geoffrey Ruku was appointed to the Cabinet earlier in the year.

The exchange between Kuria and Gachagua highlights a growing struggle for influence in Mt Kenya politics. While Gachagua has repeatedly portrayed himself as the region’s political leader, Kuria and others have challenged that position, saying Mt Kenya must remain open to multiple voices.