Kaba Methu Warns Ruto Against Dividing Mount Kenya, Dismisses Emerging ‘Wheelbarrow’ Parties

Senator Kaba Methu has launched a fierce attack on President William Ruto’s political strategy in the Mount Kenya region, accusing the President of attempting to divide the community ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Methu was speaking on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Wamunyoro Residence in Nyeri County, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hosted members and leaders associated with the Wiper Patriotic Front.

The Nyandarua Senator, who has emerged as one of Gachagua's vocal political allies, claimed that Ruto's political strategy was shifting towards dividing the Mount Kenya region by promoting alternative political formations and leaders.

‘Who are these 5%?’

During his address, Methu questioned the level of support he said President Ruto enjoys, while criticizing the President over his administration's record.

“We are just trying because me I can't understand who are these 5%. I have really tried to think in my mind, who is this 5% who is supporting William Ruto?”

He then questioned how anyone could continue supporting the President amid what he described as concerns over the country's economy and the treatment of young people.

“How do you support somebody who is killing children? How do you support somebody who is killing our economy?”

Methu went on to argue that Ruto had moved to what he described as “gear number two” in his political strategy.

Methu: Ruto wants to divide Mount Kenya

According to Methu, Ruto understands that a politically united Mount Kenya region could pose a challenge to his political ambitions.

“He now thinks that he's very clever. So, he knows a united mountain is a certain way of taking him home.”

Methu accused the President of working to create divisions within the region by promoting different political identities and leaders.

He recalled previous attempts to create distinctions between Mount Kenya East and Mount Kenya West, saying communities in Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi rejected the idea.

“He started with a very tall man... trying to divide the mountain saying that there's Mount Kenya West and there's Mount Kenya East.”

Methu said those attempts had failed.

“The people of Embu, the people of Meru, the people of Tharaka Nithi said no.”

‘One leader, one community, one party’

The senator said the emergence of Gachagua's political movement had given the Mount Kenya region what he described as a clear political identity.

“One leader, one community, one party. One leader Rigathi Gachagua, one party DCP, one community Mount Kenya.”

Methu argued that this unity was the reason he believed attempts to introduce alternative political formations would not succeed.

‘Bring on the wheelbarrows’

One of the most striking moments of the speech came when Methu repeatedly referred to emerging political parties and movements as “wheelbarrows.”

He claimed that more political formations were being prepared in different parts of the country as part of an attempt to divide Mount Kenya politically.

“These wheelbarrows that are coming up, all of them, we know them. First, we knew they are coming, and we know the others that are coming.”

Methu said he was already aware of other formations allegedly being prepared in areas including Laikipia and Nakuru.

“We know that there's a wheelbarrow that is being prepared in Laikipia... We know there is another wheelbarrow that is being prepared from Nakuru, and many other wheelbarrows that are coming.”

He described the alleged strategy as “strategy number two.”

‘Once bitten, twice shy’

Methu also predicted that the alleged political strategy would eventually involve introducing new presidential candidates from the Mount Kenya region.

“And we can even preempt what will happen because we know that after these wheelbarrows, you will now go to introduce new presidential candidates from this region to try and divide this mountain.”

He then issued a direct message to President Ruto:

“Let me give you very bad news—I don't know whether he's watching—let me give you very bad news, Mr. William Ruto: once bitten, twice shy.”

Methu used the experience of the recent Ol Kalou contest to argue that voters in the region were unlikely to be easily persuaded by multiple political parties.

He said that despite the presence of several political parties during the campaign, voters ultimately knew where their political allegiance lay.

“There were nine political parties in Ol Kalou, but the people of Ol Kalou voted for the party—their party of choice—86%.”

Methu also pointed to the victory of the DCP candidate in the by-election as evidence of the political strength of the party in the region.

‘A wheelbarrow is a wheelbarrow’

Methu mocked what he described as attempts to create multiple political parties under different colours and identities.

“We shall name them. This is a blue wheelbarrow, this is a yellow wheelbarrow, this is a whatever wheelbarrow.”

He added:

“Whether it is green, yellow, orange, whatever color—a wheelbarrow is a wheelbarrow. A wheelbarrow is a wheelbarrow!”

The senator maintained that changing the identity or colour of a political formation would not change how voters in the region viewed it.

“And the way we have been dealing with the big wheelbarrow is the way we will deal with the small wheelbarrows. All wheelbarrows will be dealt with the same.”

Message to Gachagua: ‘Your focus is William Ruto’

Methu concluded his remarks by inviting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to address the gathering.

Before handing over the microphone, he issued what appeared to be a direct political message to Gachagua.

“And we want to ask you, Your Excellency, William Ruto wants to distract you. Your focus is William Ruto.”

The remarks underline the increasingly confrontational political battle taking shape around the Mount Kenya region as political parties and leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

Methu's speech also highlighted the growing importance of political unity within the region, with the senator portraying emerging alternative political formations as part of a strategy to fragment Mount Kenya's voting bloc.