DP Rigathi Gachagua meeting a group of Mt Kenya leaders at his Nyeri Home. PHOTO: RIGATHI GACHAGUA/X
BY MOSES ODHIAMBO AND AMOS NJAU
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his troops have intensified their efforts to acquire a political party as they plot battle against their former boss, President William Ruto.
The Star has established Gachagua and his inner circle have been aggressively trying to acquire the Kenya Reforms Party (KRP), a Limuru Road-based outfit registered in 2016. If the KRP deal fails, the former DP and his allies are also said to be considering registering the ‘Village Movement’, a new political outfit.
There is also an indication he could work with the national party associated with former Thika Town MP Wainaina Jungle.
On December 30, the former MP posted a photo of himself and Gachagua with a caption reading “party leaders consulting”. Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru did not confirm or deny the reports but said a new party could not be ruled out in the 2027 game plan.
“When they decided to send away the Deputy President [Gachagua], they thought we’d go kneeling…instead, the Gachagua factor has taken root and is already a movement everyone wants to be part of. The ground is saying it all,” he said.
It is understood that Gachagua’s team is certain they have no future in the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and President Ruto is just waiting for an opportune moment to engineer a purge.
A source who requested anonymity intimated to the Star the former DP and his troops reached out to KRP after Democratic Party (DP) refused to play ball. KRP party leader Munene Kahiro was not immediately available for comment on the machinations.
It is understood that leaders of the Democratic Party asked for more time to consider the proposal. Even so, there were signals the acquisition move was premature, triggering claims of interference by state functionaries.
Dr Njagi Kumantha, DP national organising secretary, however, dismissed claims the former DP had approached party officials. While they treated the sentiments as street declarations, Gachagua “has a right to association”, hence, he is free to join or work with the party.
“He has not officially requested to join us. We can’t turn him away when he does. We are treating the narrative as street declarations. If he makes the move, we will call management to deliberate on it,” he told the Star.
The party official said that for them, “the situation (in the country) is very fluid” and that it is “a bit too early for political negotiations”.
On several occasions, however, Gachagua has hinted that he is working on a political movement to challenge his former boss.
“The political movement that will start in this mountain, 2002 will look like a joke. We shall join other Kenyans and define our destiny,” he said at a recent church event.
The former DP said he blames himself for trusting Ruto too much when they made UDA an independent political outfit that would guarantee the Mt Kenya region a better bargaining chip in 2027.
“Never again shall any leader take this region for granted…our votes will be well anchored so the mountain will not fi nd itself in the awkward position we are currently in,” he said.
Following his impeachment last October, Gachagua was removed as deputy leader of the UDA party.
There were indications he’d be removed as a member. Being partyless, there was talk he had also approached the Jubilee Party, through proxies, to work together to challenge Ruto.
On this, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni said,;
“We have had proxies coming our way. In the meantime, though, we will be dealing and engage with those in government, opposition, new aspirants and Gen Z.”
Gachagua’s troops view Jubilee, which is still under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, as a perfect launch pad for the 2027 polls.
Kioni said the party has been receiving the requests, attributing them to its history as the outfit that led the government for 10 years.
“We are told Jubilee is the best option since it has a track record and a national appeal. We get requests from across the country.”
Gachagua is not the only one seeking to create a political movement around him in the vote-rich region. Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga recently announced that he was registering a party.
He made the revelation when President Ruto employed a strategy to control the region’s parties, including Jubilee.
The recent Cabinet changes that favoured former President Kenyatta’s allies has been touted as part of the plan.
In naming former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi as chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority board, President Ruto is said to be poised to strike a working agreement with the Party of National Unity.
PNU is among members of the Raila Odinga-led Azimio coalition, hence, stands to augment ODM, which has already established a working relationship with UDA.
Political scientist Oscar Omondi told the Star the moves point to a bid by Ruto to form a new coalition comprising his UDA, ODM, and small parties from Mt Kenya and other regions.
He said the coalition, like those of the past three elections, which have been formed barely two months to the vote, has a chance of winning the vote.
“They may come up with a coalition called UDM. is would be a fusion of Ruto’s UDA and Raila’s ODM,” Omondi said.
Ruto’s nomination of Mutahi Kagwe as Agriculture Cabinet Secretary as well as Lee Kinyanjui as Trade Cabinet Secretary point towards imminent collaborations with Jubilee, some observers say Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, who has been nominated as ICT Cabinet Secretary, is the leader of the Tujibebe Party.
The appointments came after uo Mathenge, leader of The New Democrats, was named as chairman of the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation.
“The coalition is intended to isolate those who don’t hold the same line of thought, like Gachagua and his ilk. Like those that were formed two to three months to the election and won, it will win, too,” Omondi said.
Other political watchers say the countermeasures by President Ruto, including courting the small parties, may not work against the traction Gachagua has gained in the region.
“President Ruto needs to do more. His strategies of appointing CSs from the region may not achieve much. The sort of anger in the Mountain can’t end with bringing the likes of Kabogo into government,” political analyst Herman Manyora said.
“The region’s anger requires a
more serious approach than bringing a few guys into government.
If Uhuru cannot make people
change, how can the appointments
help?” he asked.
