By Anderson Ojwang
From a once quiet and sleepy Wamunyoro, today it is awake, teeming, bursting and speaking loudly and boldly.
The once dormant volcano of Mt Kenya, currently Wamunyoro, is volcanically active, threatening to erupt.
Just when most people thought that Wamunyoro’s volcano was extinct, it is erupting. The impeached deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, is rising and scaring the political status quo.
In geography, a volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust that lets hot magma, ash, and gases escape from deep inside the planet. When pressure builds up, these materials burst out in an eruption, building up huge hills or mountains over time.
The definition is applicably political and aptly captures the present situation in Mt Kenya and the country after the impeachment of the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in 2024 and his political return that threatens to consume and build others altogether.
The delegation, the donations and the four-star food at Wamunyoro tell the story of the volcano.
Extinct to active volcano
Guillotined by the National Assembly and the Senate, Gachagua was expected to be politically extinct, not even dormant.
Just when many thought Gachagua was done, buried and dusted, Wamunyoro is active and bursting. On every market day in Wamunyoro.
Wamunyoro has become the destination for Mt Kenya. Currently, Wamunyoro is a beehive and a cocktail of activities.
The king of shareholders’ stock crumbled at the National market, auctioned by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the vehicle he rode on to the second most powerful seat in the country, and was left for the dustbin.
But Gachagua went back home, left the leafy Karen’s Deputy President residence for Wamunyoro.
Instead of lying and waiting for fate to take its course, Gachagua faced Mt Kenya to plead with his ancestors, Mumbi, and began climbing the mountain.
New business
After 40 days of fasting in Mt Kenya, Gachagua unveiled a new vehicle, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), and registered it into the stock market.
The market reacted and caused shock. DCP stock bloomed and is currently traded high at the Wamunyoro stock market.
The UDA stock fell flat in Mt Kenya and the prices of shares have plummeted, with the majority selling to buy the DCP shares.
But some of the main shareholders in UDA from the region are staying put, hoping that the market will get a positive reaction towards the 2027 general elections.
Luckiest man
Gachagua is the luckiest person today. From snatching away the running mate post from Professor of Law, Abraham Kithure Kindiki, in the 2022 presidential election, to being guillotined but still the king of the mountain.
From suffering impeachment and being thrown into the dustbin, today it is all smiles for Gachagua.
For the first time, during the visit by a delegation from the Wiper party, Gachagua opened up to say that his impeachment was a blessing in disguise and that he was the happiest person.
“Let me welcome my cousin to Wamunyoro, where we came when we were removed from the government. We came here. This is where we live. My wife and children live in Nairobi,” he said.
The 45 days of conclave have witnessed a cocktail of activities and woken up the once sleepy Wamunyoro.
“We have too many visitors every day. And my community has also owned this home. Of late, Senator John Methu is talking like he is the owner of this home. We have allowed him, and because we don’t have children here, the cows in this home are community-donated,” he said.
Slaughterhouse
Gachagua made history by the number of cows, goats and sheep that have been slaughtered, making Wamunyoro the slaughterhouse.
“The food that is eaten in this home is brought by the community. After I came to Wamunyoro for the last 50 days, we have slaughtered over 800 cows, goats over 3,000 and sheep,” he said.
He said the delegations have been bringing bananas, rice and assorted foodstuffs.
“I am really enjoying myself. For a long time, I am not spending money. Whatever happened to me, it was a blessing in disguise,” he said.
Gachagua no longer spends his money on food and other activities.
“I used to spend a lot of money. For the first time, I spend no money. All the food eaten in this home is brought by the various delegations,” he said.
Extend or end conclave dilemma
Gachagua said apart from food donations, he also receives money donated to him by the delegations.
“The delegations also bring me money. I am really enjoying myself. Even the conclave was supposed to end in 45 days but I added more days. I wanted to add more days but I cannot do that any longer. I need to wind up the conclave,” he said.
While welcoming the Wiper delegation, he said, “Welcome, I am told you have brought goats. I am happy you have known the procedure. If you have money, I will receive it.”
Gachagua claimed that President William Ruto was worried by the huge traffic to Wamunyoro.
“Ruto was asking his people, ‘This Wamunyoro, I hear people are flocking the place. How come he is not giving money? Is it true he is not giving money?’ Yes, it is true he is not giving out money. It is the people taking money, goats, cows and all sorts of things,” he said.
He said Ruto’s politics was that of dishing out money, and that was why he was concerned about the happenings in Wamunyoro.
“How can that be possible? Because Ruto’s politics is for dishing out. He cannot understand how. The people who come here, we consult and plan for the future of Kenya. We are not here to bribe anybody. It is not about bribery and money,” he said.
Windfall
It is still raining in Wamunyoro, and as we head into 2027, it will be a volcanic windfall for Gachagua.
