Fury As Gachagua Orders Kikuyus in the US to Stop Sending Money Home to Punish Ruto

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ignited a political firestorm after urging Kenyans from the Mt Kenya region living in the United States to withhold diaspora remittances until President William Ruto’s administration leaves office, sparking fierce condemnation from government leaders who warn the directive could cripple Kenya’s economy.

Speaking during his ongoing two-month tour of the United States, the impeached former deputy president framed the call as “economic resistance,” arguing that Mt Kenya’s financial contributions have been undervalued by the Kenya Kwanza government.

Gachagua, who now leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), maintained that the region possesses the financial muscle to influence national stability through its diaspora community.

“I want to tell you the government has failed economically. We have withheld our money back at home, and I urge you to do the same that you are doing here,” Gachagua declared during his address to Kenyan diaspora communities, punctuating his speech with what critics have termed dangerously divisive rhetoric.

The controversial remarks have triggered sharp political backlash back home, with senior government officials accusing Gachagua of exploiting ethnic divisions for personal political gain ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi delivered perhaps the harshest rebuke, questioning Gachagua’s mental state and warning that such utterances could devastate Kenya’s economy.

“You want to tell people from the mountain to keep their money in their pockets and wait for you until 2027? I think you have a mental issue. How do you even say something like that?” Sudi posed during a public address.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah joined the chorus of condemnation while launching a road construction project in Chuka, describing Gachagua’s call as irresponsible and unpatriotic.

Ichung’wah emphasized that withholding remittances would harm ordinary Kenyans rather than the government, stating in Swahili that when a leader in America tells Kenyans not to send money to their parents, he hurts the parents, not the government.

“We want to ask those who are bad mouthing our country outside the country to try to be patriotic, not for the sake of the leaders but for the sake of the country,” Ichung’wah declared, warning that such statements undermine Kenya’s credibility and jeopardize efforts to grow the economy.

South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro also took aim at Gachagua, dismissing him as engaging in “empty political noise” without offering viable solutions.

In a veiled reference to the former deputy president’s impeachment, Osoro questioned his political viability, noting that an impeached leader cannot run for president.

The political stakes are particularly high given the critical role diaspora remittances play in Kenya’s economy.

According to Central Bank of Kenya data, Kenyans abroad sent home a record $4.94 billion in 2024, marking an 18 percent growth rate that surpassed official projections.

The United States remains the largest source of these remittances, contributing 51 percent of total inflows, making Gachagua’s call for an economic boycott potentially devastating.

Paradoxically, even as Gachagua urged diaspora Kenyans to withhold remittances, he acknowledged during business community meetings in Boston that diaspora money represents Kenya’s highest foreign exchange source, surpassing income from traditional exports like tea, coffee, and tourism.

This contradiction has further fueled criticism that his political rhetoric contradicts economic reality.

The former deputy president, who was impeached in October following a bitter fallout with President Ruto, has remained defiant despite mounting criticism.

He claims the Kenya Kwanza leadership’s efforts to politically sideline him have failed, accusing the government of attempting to divide the Mt Kenya region through strategic appointments and targeted campaigns.

“They tried to dismantle my support base, but the mountain has stood firm,” Gachagua declared, positioning himself as the voice of Mt Kenya resistance against the Ruto administration.

Critics argue that Gachagua’s strategy represents a dangerous precedent of using ethnic mobilization and economic sabotage as political weapons.

The controversy comes as Kenya grapples with existing political tensions and economic challenges, with opposition figures warning that such divisive tactics could further destabilize the country.

As Gachagua continues his American tour, positioning himself as a frontrunner for the opposition’s 2027 presidential ticket, his controversial remittance directive has crystallized fears about the weaponization of ethnic politics and economic nationalism in Kenya’s increasingly polarized political landscape.

The long-term impact of his call on both diaspora confidence and Kenya’s economic stability remains to be seen, but the immediate political fallout has already begun reshaping the contours of the 2027 electoral battle.