Gachagua Accuses Ruto of Seeking to Divide Linda Mwananchi

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of allegedly using the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to create divisions within the Linda Mwananchi movement.

Speaking in the United States on Saturday, September 19, Gachagua warned that the opposition coalition could face difficulties if its leaders fail to address growing tensions within the movement.

Gachagua said he had personally contacted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to alert them about what he described as a coordinated campaign to undermine their political alliance.

Gachagua Claims State Plot Against Movement

According to Gachagua, the alleged campaign followed a large Linda Mwananchi gathering in Nairobi, which he claimed prompted concern within the government.

“The president is so scared of these young leaders. After the meeting that took place in Jacaranda through the streets of Nairobi, they have panicked and the National Security Council was convened and the National Intelligence Service was instructed to devise ways and means of creating a rift within Linda Mwananchi,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua did not provide evidence publicly to substantiate the allegation.

Sifuna and Babu are among the key figures associated with Linda Mwananchi, with the movement backing Sifuna as its presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua Reaches Out to Sifuna, Babu

The former deputy president said he had held separate conversations with Sifuna and Babu, urging them to address disagreements before they escalate.

“I placed a call to Sifuna from here, had a long chat with him. I did the same with Babu and I told them: ‘Look here, you young guys, your movement is being infiltrated by William Ruto and the National Intelligence Service and your supporters are falling for it,’” he said.

Gachagua encouraged the two leaders to meet and engage their supporters to prevent disagreements within the movement from worsening.

His intervention comes against the backdrop of public disagreements involving some of Linda Mwananchi’s leaders and supporters.

Some of Sifuna’s allies have accused Babu of seeking greater influence within the movement and attempting to exert pressure on the Nairobi senator.

Babu has denied the allegations and repeatedly maintained that he supports Sifuna’s presidential ambitions.

Gachagua Warns Against Ethnic Divisions

Gachagua also expressed concern over what he described as an emerging ethnic dimension to the disagreements, particularly tensions involving Luo and Luhya communities.

He accused the government of pursuing a “divide and rule” strategy, while urging Sifuna and Babu not to allow their political differences to take on an ethnic character.

“That is what William Ruto wants; divide and rule. He doesn’t want the Luo and Luhya people to be together, and I’ve told Sifuna and Babu that as leaders from those communities, don’t fall into that trap. William Ruto would be the beneficiary,” he said.

Gachagua subsequently broadened his appeal to the Kikuyu and Luo communities, urging them not to allow political differences to create hostility between the two groups.

“Ruto is an expert in pitting communities against each other. I really want to persuade our brothers from the Luo nation and my kinsmen from the Kikuyu nation, please don’t allow William Ruto to pit us against each other. The Luos and the Kikuyu are the same people. They are suffering in Kenya like all other Kenyans. The two communities are not enemies,” he said.