Gachagua: Ruto has revived Pentagon to sideline Mt Kenya in '27

By Wanderi Kamau

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of reviving a “Pentagon-style” alliance similar to that of 2007, claiming it is designed to weaken and politically sideline the Mt Kenya region in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a joint interview with Inooro TV and Inooro FM on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri, Gachagua alleged that Ruto had assembled a new coalition with top national leaders to counter the influence of Mt Kenya.

According to the former DP, the political alliance—referred to as the “revived Pentagon”—comprises President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho.

“This Pentagon is a political scheme to finish Mt Kenya just like they did in 2007,” said Gachagua.

The 2007 Pentagon, which propelled Raila Odinga’s ODM campaign, included Raila, Ruto, Mudavadi, former Tourism Minister Najib Balala, and the late Joe Nyaga, then Minister for Co-operatives.

Gachagua argued that in the new political arrangement, Kindiki had replaced Nyaga, while Joho had taken Balala’s place.

Building his own machine

Gachagua, who has since launched the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), maintained that Mt Kenya would not be intimidated by the President’s political maneuvers. He expressed confidence that his party would deliver sweeping victories across the country, particularly within his home turf.

“With my new party, I expect to bag 14 gubernatorial seats, 14 senatorial seats, 78 MP seats, and 416 MCA seats,” he said.

He described the party as a rising force with deep grassroots support and said it would serve as a vehicle to defend the political and economic interests of Mt Kenya.

“With such a strong army, it will be easy to champion for the interests of Mt Kenya region,” added Gachagua.

The former DP castigated MPs from the mountain region who have continued to back Ruto’s administration, describing them as “political sellouts” betraying the community’s long-term interests.

The seven million base

Gachagua also unveiled his national campaign strategy, pointing out that he already had a solid base of supporters in Mt Kenya.

“The votes which I am sure I have consolidated…those that I can even swear with a Bible are seven million,” he said.

He further revealed that he would not confine his political activities to the mountain but would venture into other regions in search of more support.

“I will then head to Maasailand, the Coast and the entire country. I will talk with the Gen Zs, payslip holders. I want to go on the table with 10 million votes,” said Gachagua.

Mbeere-North calculations

Turning to the Mbeere North constituency by-election, Gachagua shed light on the opposition’s decision to rally behind Muminji MCA Newton Kariuki, popularly known as Karish.

He explained that the choice followed extensive consultations and was guided by the outcome of opinion polls.

“The decision was arrived after internal opinion polls indicated that he was the most popular candidate,” Gachagua said.

He clarified that while DCP remained the dominant party in the region, the opposition decided it was strategically fair to support the Democratic Party (DP), given that the former MP had been elected on that party’s ticket.

“DCP remains the most popular party in the region. However, we agreed that since the previous MP had been elected on a Democratic Party (DP) party ticket, it was fair to support DP, which is part of the opposition,” said Gachagua.