IN SHORT: A screenshot posted on social media claims Kenya’s Star newspaper reported that former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua plotted to cause chaos during president William Ruto's tour of the Mt Kenya region in April 2025. But the image is a fabrication and this was not reported by the Star.
What seems to be either a screenshot or a photo of the print version of Corridors of Power, a popular political gossip column in Kenyan’s Star newspaper, makes a startling claim.
The text in the image reads: “With President Ruto's tour of Mt. Kenya underway, former DP has worked behind the scenes to manufacture chaos by mobilising the very shadowy forces flagged by the defence CS. It is said he activated a homegrown militia dubbed the 'Itungati', the same one linked to fake KDF recruitment.”
It continues: “They are said to be planning hostility along the president's route, determined to stage optics of a failing visit and reinforce the narrative that Mt. Kenya remains under his grip.”
The Mt Kenya region in central Kenya is culturally rich and predominantly inhabited by the Kikuyu, Meru and Embu communities. It is politically influential in national affairs because of its many voters.
The column is accompanied by a photo of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024 on charges of corruption, incitement of ethnic divisions and undermining the government, among others.
In response, some of Gachagua's supporters in the Mt Kenya region began identifying themselves as Itungati, a term historically associated with Mau Mau warriors during Kenya's struggle for independence.
The group's activities raised concerns. In January 2025, former Murang'a governor Mwangi wa Iria asked the government to investigate it, citing potential security threats and allegations of intimidation of non-supporters.
Amid these developments, president William Ruto started a five-day tour of the Mt Kenya region on 1 April. The tour was framed as focusing on development, but coming in the wake of tensions following Gachagua’s removal, was seen as Ruto campaigning.
During Ruto's tour, the crowds were at times hostile, with influential leaders heckled. The president and Gachagu also traded bitter accusations in the media about their fallout.
This graphic also appears here and here. (Note: See more instances at the end of this report.) But is this an excerpt from the Star’s Corridors of Power column?
Fake screenshot
On 3 April, the Star posted the image on its verified X and Facebook accounts with the stamp “FAKE”.
“If it is not on our official pages, it is FAKE! Get the real copy by visiting mgazeti.com,” the newspaper said.
We couldn't find any reports in the local media about the former deputy president “orchestrating chaos” during Ruto's tour. Such an incident would have made headlines, as many reports of political violence in Kenya do.
This screenshot also appears here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
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