Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has firmly dismissed claims that he has shifted political allegiance to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, publicly reaffirming his loyalty to President William Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking during a church service held on Sunday, January 11, in Othaya Constituency, Kahiga said his focus remained on service delivery and development rather than early political manoeuvres. He stressed that President Ruto remained the legitimate head of state and deserved the support of leaders at this stage.
“William Ruto is my president. I voted for him and there is no other president. This is not the time for politics; it is time to work. Politics will come later,” Kahiga said.
The governor also moved to quash speculation that he had joined Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), stating categorically that he is still a fully paid-up member of UDA.
“I am still a UDA member. I don’t want to be like Wi-Fi that connects everywhere. Leadership requires clarity and a plan,” he added.
Kahiga accompanied President Ruto to the church service, a move that raised eyebrows coming just days after he hosted Gachagua at a political rally in Nyeri on Friday, January 9. The appearance had fuelled rumours that the governor was rallying behind the former deputy president following his impeachment in 2024.
His remarks come against the backdrop of shifting political alliances in the Mount Kenya region, where Kahiga has increasingly been viewed as a political lone ranger. While UDA insiders have previously questioned his loyalty, DCP distanced itself from him in late 2025, insisting he officially belonged to UDA.
Kahiga acknowledged his strained relations with both camps, saying criticism from all sides had pushed him to clarify his political position.
Despite reaffirming support for the president, Kahiga remains one of Ruto’s most vocal critics in the region. He has repeatedly accused the government of sidelining Mount Kenya in development, most notably claiming in October 2025 that state resources were being skewed toward Nyanza.
The governor previously resigned as vice chairperson of the Council of Governors following public backlash over controversial remarks, later replaced by Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki.
Even so, Kahiga has continued to accompany the president during official tours in Nyeri, insisting that his participation is driven by his constitutional duty as governor and the need to keep the county firmly within government structures.