An Open Letter to Rigathi Gachagua

This’ not a Typical Open Letter to Rigathi Gachagua, it’ll Hurt

You have been outspoken, the biggest critic of President William Ruto, and thanks to you, we might have never known some of the secretive things the government was doing behind closed doors.

That’s something I’d personally commend.

The “Mlima” (Mountain) Rhetoric will Destroy your Plans Even Before You Start

You can have a greater influence, but your limited tribal rhetoric benefits Ruto more than it helps your narratives.

Those around you should have told you this the first time you said it, but whether they’re afraid or just trying to please you, I won’t do either.

You are a politician, and I know their usual political games of dividing to conquer, but you’re dividing and contradicting your own plans.

To be honest with you, even the majority of GEMA, while not pleased by the government, they’re still not pleased with you.

This “Mlima” rhetoric is going to destroy you and your agendas of making Ruto a one-term president.

Personally can’t associate myself with your rhetoric as it conveys a divisive and limited ideology that’s going to fail – if not changed.

You recently claimed you’re going to launch a new political party in May, but are you sure you’re ready for such an endeavor with your continuous “mlima” rhetoric?

Will it just be a GEMA party or a national party that’s inclusive of everyone who’s unhappy with how the current administration is governing?

Change Your Rhetoric to Stand a Chance

You express the support of Gen Z and seek to lure them into your movement, but do you understand what they identify with?

May the following guide you to making wise decisions and prevent you from self-destruction and taking down Mt. Kenya with you:

• Majority of Gen Z don’t identify with the tribal labels – many come from multicultural backgrounds and so have no specific tribal identity (your “mlima” rhetoric locks them out)
• Many from other regions truly recognize the idea of your “movement” but with your usual “mlima” rhetoric, they feel secluded and so distance themselves. After all, you can’t associate yourself with someone who doesn’t appreciate or recognize you.
• While majority of “mlima people” seek an alternative from the current administration, many of them don’t want to be associated with your rhetoric – and through this, you’ll end up losing.
• This rhetoric is painting Ruto as the “savior” to those not hailing from “mlima” and through his scheming techniques, he takes advantage of this and displays himself as the “most inclusive person to unite Kenya.”
• When we talk about presidential elections, we’re talking about a nation, not a specific region. Seems like you forgot.
• Talk the language of the collective masses, stop limiting your movement trying to please fellow politicians – focus on the common mwananchi (citizen) and know what they want and it’s not tribal politics.
• Focus on the real issues affecting Kenyans.
• You need to fire your advisers who somehow don’t seem to see the reality as it is on the grassroots.

You have a very good chance if you only realize that your continuous rhetoric is doing more harm even in your backyard, as opposed to its good.

If you want to change Kenya, you need to change the way you look at its citizens.

We are all fed up with the current government, but your rhetoric will just take us further backwards, and that’s how you lose.

Hope this gets to you. Citizen Z.