Mt Kenya Must Be in Government for the Next 100 Years, Says Gachagua

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has emphasised the importance of unity in the Mt Kenya region during a speech in Meru on Sunday.

Gachagua asserted that the people of Mt Kenya are intelligent and cannot be coerced into the Opposition's folds. His rallying call was for a united front that would maximise bargaining power and ensure continued government presence in the next hundred years. To him, it is essential that the region function as a cohesive community. He further emphasised the importance of the region's continued relevance in Kenyan politics.

While acknowledging past division among the region's voters, Gachagua affirmed his mission to unify and align the region in favour of President William Ruto. He mentioned that he would go as far as to rally supporters of the opposition coalition to ditch Azimio for the Kenya Kwanza administration. Gachagua stressed the importance of forming a unified coalition in order to avoid the wastage of votes seen during the last election where 13 per cent voted against Ruto.

The Deputy President emphasized that moving forward, he does not want to hear any accusations from people in the region claiming that others have worked with the Opposition. He confirmed that the region is now a unified front and operating cohesively. Furthermore, he reinforced the government's strong commitment to working through challenges that Miraa farmers encounter. Gachagua conveyed these statements at the Methodist Church of Kenya in Kaelo, Meru when he encouraged Nacada to reconsider their decision to classify miraa as a drug. He explained that the profits from Miraa have had a positive impact on the lives of many residents in the region.

Gachagua assured that President William Ruto will fulfil his promises to support the sector by securing a reliable market outside the country's borders. He also revealed plans to organize a Miraa conference, similar to the previous tea and coffee conferences, to address the challenges faced by Miraa farmers. Mr Gachagua mentioned that his collaboration with Cabinet Secretaries Mithika Linturi for Agriculture and Simon Chelugui for Cooperatives is pivotal in guaranteeing the welfare of Miraa cultivators.

According to recent research conducted by the agency, miraa and muguka are among the most commonly abused substances by Kenyans aged 15-65 years. Nacada CEO Victor Okioma has highlighted the detrimental effects of miraa, describing it as a substance that induces various disorders due to its inclusion of addictive psychotropic substances.