Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is rolling out a multipronged political strategy to scuttle President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 polls.
The Star has reliably established that Gachagua is plotting to leverage his perceived popularity in his Mt Kenya turf to lock Ruto out of the vote-rich region.
Barely two years in office, the one-time Mathira MP had a bitter falling out with the President, leading to his dramatic and historic impeachment.
“We are working on broad-based approaches as we explore available options to secure a resounding political comeback following his irregular ouster,” Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, a staunch Gachagua ally, said.
The ex-DP is reportedly building a team of trusted agents and allies to ring-fence the region that overwhelmingly voted for Ruto in the last polls.
“The mountain is ours and we have confirmed that through various meetings and engagements with the people,” a vocal senator allied to Gachagua said. “If the President wants the support of our community, he must pass through Gachagua.”
Gachagua is also crafting what his troops have termed a lethal political alliance to dent the President’s re-election bid.
Further, the former DP has embarked on poisonous attacks on Ruto’s administration to expose it as corrupt, insensitive and ham-fisted.
“You will see him in funerals, social places, churches, harambees and many other places. He is going to talk to the people and expose this inept regime,” the legislator stated.
Political observer Martin Andati said Gachagua has the potential to hedge Mt Kenya to Ruto’s detriment.
“Gachagua wants to make it impossible for Ruto and his allies to campaign in Mt Kenya. It is going to be bare-knuckle,” Andati said.
Ruto got most of the votes in the region to win the Presidency in 2022.
ONGOING TALKS
According to sources in Gachagua’s inner circles, the impeached DP has engaged in back-to-back closed-door meetings with key opinion leaders in his rural home in Nyeri.
He has met politicians, business people and religious leaders, among other influential people, in his bid to consolidate the region behind him.
“He is going to make a very big comeback. He is currently consulting different people who believe in him. In January, we shall know the outcome of the consultations. That is what will inform our strategy,” Muranga Senator Joe Nyutu, also a Gachagua ally, said.
The former DP confirmed the meetings, recently saying he would give the region political direction in January.
Already, Gachagua is in talks with Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka and other parties in the Azimio coalition to form a mega alliance that would lock Ruto out of key regions.
Kalonzo, apparently feeling betrayed by Raila Odinga’s move to work with Ruto, is intent on partnering with Gachagua ahead of the polls.
The former Vice President’s allies have said a deal with Gachagua is in the offing.
“We are working on the new coalition and looking for new partners, the coalition should be in place by Christmas. We are first making sure we have as many like-minded parties as possible,” Makueni Senator and Wiper deputy secretary general Dan Maanzo said.
“We are working together with the community (Mt Kenya). It is one of the regions we are going to work with.”
Corroborating the sentiments, Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi – another close ally of Kalonzo – said the new political outfit will have diverse membership - including notable figures from Mt Kenya.
“It is bigger than Azimio, we are moving very fast. We must be ready early in terms of having our candidate and the party,” Mwangangi said.
GEMA COMEBACK
Kalonzo’s Kamba community was also recently reintegrated into Gema (Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association), signalling a looming political deal.
The ceremony, which climaxed at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, saw elders from the Kikuyu Council of Elders, Embu Council of Elders, Njuri Ncheke and the Akamba clan governing council conduct rituals of reintegration.
They agreed to roll out the process that would restore the social-political integration of the communities.
The elders attributed their differences to a divide-and-rule strategy by the colonialists, which was perpetuated after independence.
Former NCCK secretary general, Rev Canon Peter Karanja, who is the chief executive of the Gema Cultural Association, noted how Kalonzo supported Mwai Kibaki “to restore order”.
NEXT YEAR’S CALENDAR
The Star understands that Gachagua plans aggressive political activities early next year, including meet-the people tours.
The meetings will culminate in mega rallies where a new political alliance that will take on Ruto in 2027 will be unveiled.
The strategy would mirror Ruto’s, who launched political events soon after he clashed with his boss, then President, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto led the Tanga Tanga movement, a splinter group within the ruling Jubilee party, in rebelling against Uhuru’s regime.
However, sources in government say the state is keen to curtail Gachagua from throwing the country into an early campaign mood.
The government hopes to deny the former DP ‘breathing space’ to roam the country. Last Thursday, Gachagua escaped unhurt after chaos rocked a burial ceremony he attended alongside his allies in Bibirioni, Limuru, Kiambu.
The skirmish erupted before the
former DP spoke.
He would later blame the state for
the chaos, accusing the government
of using intimidation to silence him.
