Gachagua: Kenya’s Economy Collapsing Since Ruto Declared War on Mount Kenya

Former Deputy President Links Economic Downturn to Political Hostility Against Central Kenya Community

Boston, USA – July 20, 2025

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua delivered a scathing critique of President William Ruto’s administration during a diaspora engagement in Boston on Sunday, directly linking Kenya’s deteriorating economic conditions to what he described as a deliberate political war against the Mount Kenya region.

Speaking passionately to members of the Kikuyu diaspora community, Gachagua painted a stark picture of economic decline that he attributes to the systematic targeting of Kenya’s most entrepreneurial region.

The former Deputy President’s remarks underscore growing tensions between the current administration and the Central Kenya community that has historically been considered the backbone of the country’s economic engine.

“When you destroy this community, you destroy Kenya,” Gachagua declared with characteristic directness.

“We are the drivers of the Kenyan economy. Since William Ruto declared war on the mountain, the economy is almost collapsing because people have stopped paying taxes and investing as they wait for a new government.”

The former Deputy President’s analysis reveals a concerning trend of economic resistance, where Mount Kenya entrepreneurs and business leaders have allegedly adopted a wait-and-see approach, deliberately withholding their financial contributions to the national economy.

This strategic withdrawal of economic participation, according to Gachagua, mirrors the behavior of diaspora Kenyans who are cautiously managing their resources during uncertain times.

Gachagua’s observations highlight the intricate relationship between political stability and economic performance in Kenya.

He suggested that the Mount Kenya community’s response to perceived political hostility has created a ripple effect throughout the national economy, with businesses scaling back operations and investors postponing major financial commitments.

“The way you are hoarding your money here, even in Kenya, that is what people are doing,” he explained to the Boston audience. “We do small businesses and are holding on to the rest, waiting for the economy to change.”

The former Deputy President took pride in celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Mount Kenya community, describing them as naturally aggressive and resilient business leaders whose influence extends far beyond their regional boundaries.

His characterization of the community as inherently entrepreneurial serves to emphasize the significant economic impact of their reduced participation in national economic activities.

“This is the community that is responsible for the growth of the Kenyan economy,” Gachagua emphasized, noting the ubiquitous presence of Mount Kenya entrepreneurs across the country.

“We are very aggressive people, very entrepreneurial and outgoing, and that is why we are in every town in Kenya. That is why you are here.”

The Boston engagement, where Gachagua was accompanied by his spouse Pastor Dorcas, represented part of his ongoing tour of the United States, during which he has been briefing diaspora communities on Kenya’s current state and future prospects.

The former Deputy President praised the diaspora as a powerful force capable of driving Kenya’s economic transformation, suggesting that their potential remains largely untapped due to current political uncertainties.