Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua have buried the political hatchet and vowed to work together ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The move comes as the leaders critical of President William Ruto's leadership craft new ways to lock him out of key voting blocs.
Karua also announced plans to unveil a new party she said will liberate Kenyans from the claws of Kenya Kwanza misrule. The party will be registered next month and is one of the fronts she is hoping will turn the political tides against Ruto's UDA in the Mount Kenya region.
Accompanied by the Kikuyu council of elders, the former Gachagua arrived at the rural home of Karua in Kimunye, Gichugu, Kirinyaga county a few minutes past 11 am.
With the guidance of the elders, Gachagua handed over a male and female sheep as a sign of gesture when a leader visits another leader while a male sheep known in Kikuyu as (Ngoima) was also handed over which was later slaughtered.
The two leaders also shared part of the meat removed from the chest of the sheep signifying new beginnings of working together and fostering unity.
While addressing opinion leaders who attended the function, Gachagua said that his visit to Martha Karua was the first step in solidifying the mountain in readiness to work together with other leaders from other parts of the country.
"Martha Karua is an iron leader, people thought that because we were on different camps in the last elections, we couldn't talk and come together, but as you can see we are now together and will forge a common agenda moving forward" he said.
"I have always appreciated Martha as a good leader, even when we were competing, I always admired her leadership and always hoped if she would only be on one side," he added.
The former deputy President also hit out at President William Ruto for referring to the leaders and people of the Mountain as tribalists saying that it is unfortunate that the president has turned into insulting the people who made him President.
"The people of the Mountain are not tribalists, we supported William Ruto and made him President knowing too well he was not a Kikuyu, through Martha Karua, we voted for Raila Odinga knowing too well he was not a kikuyu, it is therefore very insulting for the President to call us tribalists," he posed.
On her part, Karua said that the newfound unity will form a formidable team that will negotiate with other communities on how to liberate the country from the current regime.
Karua announced that she has since rebranded her Narc Kenya Party to the People's Liberation Party and will be building her brand ahead of the elections.
"We have rebranded our party and will be launching it next month, I have heard my brother might also be launching a party, but are welcome to join us, but if they will not, we are still together since we are all on the same page and moving towards one direction," she said.
Karua reiterated that she will be vying for the Presidency in 2027 but she will be open to joining hands with others and even supporting another person to achieve one goal of unseating President Ruto.
She has also said that they will not allow President Ruto to graduate into a tyrant dictator saying that they will also not allow Nairobi to be made the headquarters of Kidnappings and abductions.
"We also want members of parliament to scrap the levies being charged on youths seeking to get identity cards, this is a scheme by this regime to lock out poor youths from registering as voters," she said.
Karua said that the former deputy President is always welcome to her home to consult so that they can chat the same path calling on the President to stop harassing Gachagua.
She has also called on leaders specifically former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga to stop being used to disrupt peace in the region saying that every leader should conduct their meetings without disruption.
"I want to ask my brother Maina Njenga whom I represented in court last year, supporting William Ruto is your right, but don't allow yourself to be used to fight your brothers and sisters and disrupt peace, I hear you call yourself pastor, hold your prayer rallies in peace," she said.
The two leaders vowed to work together and reach out to other leaders in the country.
Barely two years ago, the two leaders were fierce adversaries after they were both selected as running mates for Ruto and Azimio candidate Raila Odinga in the buildup to the 2022 General Elections.
Also present were MPs Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Jane Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga) Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri) Gathoni Muchomba (Githunguri) Major Donk and James Gakuya and Senator James Kamau Murango of Kirinyaga.