Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed a gathering of Mount Kenya elders convened at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, accusing Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku of attempting to divide the region.

Gachagua was reacting to a meeting held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, where more than 30,000 elders drawn from 11 counties gathered to discuss unity, peace, reconciliation, patriotism and cultural values.

In a statement, Gachagua referred to Kindiki and Ruku as “two mischievous characters” whom he alleged had been assigned by President William Ruto to divide the Mount Kenya region.

He claimed the alleged efforts had failed after residents rejected attempts to split the region along political and geographical lines.

“The efforts to divide the mountain using stolen cash for the last two years have failed flat,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua further claimed that Kindiki and Ruku had “thrown in the towel”, arguing that their retreat was not motivated by a desire to promote unity but by their alleged failure to divide the region.

“I have repeatedly warned Mr William Ruto that dividing the mountain using Kithure Kindiki and his agents is like trying to cut a Mugumo tree using a razor blade. It is mission impossible,” he said.

The former Deputy President also addressed the symbolic axe presented during the elders’ gathering, interpreting it as evidence that the alleged efforts to divide the community had failed.

“I have noted that the assembled ‘elders’, at a cost of Kshs 3,000 each, were given back a symbolic axe by the two agents of division as an admission of their frustrations and inability to divide a community that has lived together for centuries and shares common values, language, culture, and beliefs,” Gachagua said.

He challenged the elders to return the axe to those who presented it, alleging that it was part of a political mission initiated by President Ruto.

“The ‘elders’ should give back that axe to the two conspirators to take it back to Mr William Ruto, who had sent them on the failed mission. He is the owner of the axe. In fact, it is a bad omen,” he said.

Gachagua also alleged that new attempts were being made to divide the former Central Province after what he described as the failure to split Mount Kenya into eastern and western blocs.

“Having failed to divide Mt. Kenya into the imaginary West and East, the mountaineers are aware of new efforts to divide the former Central Province,” he said.

“This too will fail. Our people are too intelligent to fall for such innuendos.”

The DCP leader further alleged that President Ruto’s political strategy was based on three objectives: dividing the Mount Kenya vote, splitting the Linda Mwananchi movement and creating divisions within the United Alternative Government.

“His strategy is threefold: divide the mountain vote, split Linda Mwananchi, and cause conflict within the United Alternative Government,” Gachagua said.

“The first one has failed, and the other two shall fail miserably.”

Gachagua called on his political allies to remain vigilant against what he described as attempts to infiltrate and destabilise their political movement.

“I have urged my colleagues in the liberation struggle, both publicly and in private, to remain alert and thwart infiltration by characters sent by Mr Ruto and covert security agencies to foment division and disorganize the liberation team,” he said.

His statement came shortly after Kindiki addressed the elders at Kirigiti Stadium, where representatives of the Gikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Ameru communities declared their support for the Government and pledged to promote community and national unity.

The elders were drawn from the Kiama Kia Ma, Kikuyu Council of Elders, Kiama Kia Muembu, Nyangi Ndiriri and the Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Ameru Elders.

According to the statement issued during the gathering, the elders resolved to use their influence in society to promote peace, reconciliation, patriotism and positive cultural values among the GEMA communities and other communities across Kenya.

The gathering comes against the backdrop of renewed political activity in the Mount Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election, with competing political actors seeking to influence the region’s political direction.

While Kindiki’s meeting focused on unity and support for the Government, Gachagua interpreted the initiative as part of a broader political effort to weaken opposition forces and divide the region.

Gachagua concluded his statement by looking ahead to the August 10, 2027 General Election, saying the date “looks great” for Kenyans.

“So far, so good! 10th August 2027 looks great for the 55 million Kenyans whose lives now are a hell on earth,” he said.