Duale dismisses Gachagua’s 7-million Mt Kenya votes claim
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s claim that his political base can deliver seven million votes, arguing that the figure is inflated. Duale said the community Gachagua has been relying on for the projection has about 3.8 million votes, which he claimed falls to about 2.5 million after excluding […]
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's claim that his political base in the Mt Kenya region can deliver seven million votes, stating that the figure is exaggerated. Duale argued that the community Gachagua has relied on for the projection consists of 3.8 million votes, which he claims falls to around 2.5 million after excluding Kenyans living in the region but hailing from other parts of the country.
"You claim to have a million and a half votes; I have only 3.8 million. Excluding those living elsewhere, only 2.5 million remain," Duale stated. Gachagua has previously emphasized the voting power of the Mt Kenya region, asserting that its bloc could play a crucial role in the 2027 presidential election. Duale, however, proposed a broader coalition involving the Coast, North Eastern regions, Muslim and Christian communities, in a bid to counter Gachagua's claim.
"I, Hassan Joho, and other leaders are planning to unite North Eastern, Coast, Muslims, and Christians to raise seven million votes," Duale said. This conflict over voting blocs highlights the competition among political factions to demonstrate their capacity to marshal large voting numbers leading up to the 2027 General Election.
The seven-million-vote debate has become a common theme in political mobilization, especially as Gachagua attempts to build support in the Mt Kenya region under his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). This comes weeks after Gachagua claimed the Mt Kenya region is on track to mobilize at least 7.1 million votes in the 2027 general election, matching the national vote count of President William Ruto in 2022.
During a press briefing in Nyahururu, Duale acknowledged that he and the people of Mt Kenya played a significant role in President Ruto's 2022 election victory, admitting that the region made a "fatal mistake" by contributing nearly half the votes that propelled the Kenya Kwanza administration to power. "I want to admit and acknowledge that I, Rigathi Gachagua, and the people of Mt Kenya are, to a large extent, responsible for the mess our country is in," Duale said.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
