Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is free to tour the South Rift, but he should not mistake the warm reception he is likely to receive for political support in the 2027 General Election.

That was the message from President William Ruto's allies on Saturday as they, for the first time, softened their stance towards Mr Gachagua, signalling that opposition leaders would no longer be discouraged from campaigning in the Rift Valley, President Ruto's traditional political stronghold.

The shift comes weeks before President Ruto begins a tour of the South Rift where sections of residents have increasingly questioned the government's development record, claiming the region has lagged behind despite overwhelmingly backing the Kenya Kwanza administration in 2022.

It also follows Mr Gachagua's announcement three weeks ago that he would tour the Rift Valley, particularly the South Rift, arguing that residents were growing frustrated by what he described as unfulfilled development promises.

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua.

Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group

Speaking at Chepalungu Technical Training Institute in Bomet County, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, accompanied by six MPs and former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, maintained that while the region welcomes all political leaders, its support for President Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) remains intact.

“Mr Gachagua is welcome to the South Rift like any other leader. We are a welcoming people and we do not chase away visitors. But he should not mistake the crowds that will receive him for votes. Our hospitality should not be interpreted as political support,” said Senator Cheruiyot.

To reinforce his point, the senator cited the 2017 General Election when the NASA coalition attracted large crowds in Bomet shortly before the polls, only for former President Uhuru Kenyatta to secure an overwhelming majority of votes in the county.

The change in tone appears strategic, with Kenya Kwanza leaders increasingly avoiding calls to lock opposition figures out of the Rift Valley at a time when they themselves are traversing opposition strongholds to rally support for President Ruto ahead of 2027.

"Economic empowerment"

Senior government officials, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and President Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet, have in recent months been holding political meetings across the country under the banner of economic empowerment programmes targeting youth, women and cooperative societies.

While dismissing claims that the South Rift has been neglected, Senator Cheruiyot said the region was benefiting from major infrastructure projects, including roads, hospitals, water schemes, higher learning institutions, an airport and two airstrips.

“Those claiming this region has been abandoned do not understand the geography and development priorities of the South Rift,”he said.

The leaders' remarks also come against the backdrop of growing opposition activity in the region.

Mr Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has made inroads into parts of the South Rift after winning a civic seat in Narok last year and emerging runner-up in the May 2026 Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (left), Kesses Member of Parliament Julius Rutto (centre), former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto (right) during a meeting at Chepalungu Technical Training Institute in Bomet county on August 1, 2026.

Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation

In the by-election, UDA candidate David Keter won with 18,266 votes against DCP's Kibet Rotich, who garnered 10,760 votes in a constituency with 44,457 registered voters.

MPs Victor Koech (Chepalungu), Hillary Koskei (Kipkelion West), Alfred Mutai (Kuresoi North), Richard Yegon (Bomet East), Julius Rutto (Kesses) and Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir insisted the Kipsigis community remained firmly behind President Ruto.

“There is no way the people of Rift Valley will abandon one of their own to support a presidential candidate from another region,” said Mr Yegon.

The leaders also urged residents to register as voters with Ms Chepkorir calling on those who had not collected their national identity cards to do so to enable them to participate in the 2027 elections.

The meeting also addressed the long-running Mau Forest resettlement issue, with Senator Cheruiyot saying the government had set aside funds to compensate evictees and was finalising plans to resettle families displaced from the forest and those living on land formerly owned by the late Provincial Commissioner Isaiah Cheluget in Angata Barikoi.

“The government wants to conclude this matter once and for all so that it does not become an election issue,” he said.

Mr Gachagua has maintained that his planned South Rift tour is intended to rally residents behind DCP, arguing that many feel neglected despite strongly supporting President Ruto in 2022.

During a recent meeting with grassroots leaders from Bomet, Kericho, Narok and Nakuru at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County, the former Deputy President claimed development had been concentrated in regions that did not support Kenya Kwanza, while areas that overwhelmingly voted for the government had been sidelined.

He has argued that the South Rift, like the Mt Kenya region, has become increasingly disillusioned with the government and is ready to embrace political alternatives ahead of the 2027 General Election.

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