Wamuchomba calls on Gachagua to embrace national agenda beyond Mt Kenya
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has urged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to extend his advocacy beyond Mt Kenya and champion the interests of all Kenyans.
Speaking on a local media station on March 24, 2025, Wamuchomba acknowledged Gachagua’s efforts in defending Mt. Kenya’s interests but insisted that as a national leader, he must broaden his focus to address issues affecting other communities across the country.
The lawmaker argued that Gachagua’s political base in the Mt. Kenya region is already secure, allowing him to broaden his agenda without fear of losing his core support.
“In as much as we advocate for our mountain issues, we have to be sensitive to other people,” Wamuchomba stated.
“Gachagua needs to realize that he already has the mountain with him. He doesn’t need to keep talking about it—he should be seen as more accommodative to other communities,” she added.
She challenged Gachagua to use the same energy he has demonstrated in defending Mt. Kenya to fight for marginalized groups and those affected by government policies elsewhere.
“He needs to be seen to be advocating for the forgotten communities of this country, If really he is a national leader, we need to see Gachagua use the same energy and stamina to fight for other Kenyans other than just the people of the mountain,” she stated.
Broader advocacy
Wamuchomba highlighted several national issues that would benefit from Gachagua’s advocacy, including fighting against excessive taxation and payslip deductions that affect Kenyans across all regions.
“He has a way of doing things. I wish he could now use that energy to fight for other communities, fight for Kenyans, fight for payslips so that we don’t have any more deductions, fight for us so that we don’t suffer any more taxation, but he must also dissociate himself in his campaigns from the mountain connotations because he has fought for the mountain enough,” she advised.
The lawmaker praised Gachagua’s political effectiveness, noting his success in preserving positions for Mt. Kenya Principal Secretaries who were targeted for removal in the recent government reshuffle.
“The other day he spoke out about PSs who were about to be removed from government when he spoke about it, Ruto was scared, he had to spare them,” she said.
According to Wamuchomba, this shows that Gachagua has the political strength to influence decisions beyond Mt. Kenya and should leverage it to advocate for the concerns of all Kenyans.
“It is time for him to move out and fight for the Turkanas of this country fight for the Luos of this country. He has to do that,” she emphasized.
Lessons learnt
Wamuchomba, further acknowledged that Gachagua’s time outside government has changed his perspective, suggesting that if reinstated, he would adopt a different approach.
“If Rigathi Gachagua were returned as Deputy President today, he would behave differently. He would talk differently because he has learned a lot of lessons,” she observed.
