What Nearly Occurred When Gachagua Upstaged Kindiki & Was Crowned as Ruto's Running Mate in 2022

A publication by the Daily Nation media group on Tuesday 16th, December 2025, has disclosed to the public what nearly occurred when former Hon Rigathi Gachagua, upstaged Prof Kithure Kindiki, and was crowned as William Ruto's Presidential running mate prior to the August 2022 general elections.

As per the publication, before the election was held, heavyweights who were supporting William Ruto's quest for power were locked in a heated stalemate that lasted more than 17 hours trying to select the best fit candidate to serve as William Ruto's running mate.

During the meeting that occurred at William Ruto's Karen residence, the leaders could not agree on who to front as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA's) Presidential running mate, despite the fact that almost all those who were present as well as the opinion polls favoured Prof Kithure Kindiki (from Mt. Kenya East) as the best fit candidate against Gachagua (from Mt. Kenya West)

Despite that fact, Kithure Kindiki's name was placed under the mat due to the fact that he hails from a less populated Mt Kenya East region only for Rigathi Gachagua from the populous Mt. Kenya West to be crowned as Ruto's running mate. As a result, confrontational talks erupted that nearly degenerated into scuffles (a physical fight).

In bid to avoid a repeat of the same in the upcoming general election, Embu county boss Her Excellency Governor Cecily Mbarire and Public CS Geoffrey Ruku are now pushing for the splitting of Mt Kenya East and the Mt Kenya West from the broader Mt Kenya region to avoid one region dominating over the other in the political arena.

According to the two, Mt Kenya West region has for a long time continued to enjoy more favor in successive elections, while the East continues to be abandoned while playing the second fiddle (less important).

As a result, the two heavyweights want the two regions split, to pursue their own separate paths politically.