Alignments in Mt Kenya region are taking shape as elected leaders and aspirants coalesce around impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Leading up to his impeachment after the fallout with President William Ruto, a distinct group has remained around Gachagua and keeps bulging.
Terming his impeachment “betrayal” of the populous Mt Kenya region, Gachagua has capitalised on the fallout and formed a rebellion against the President in the region that voted him almost to a man. He has added that he will launch a party in May and will work to ensure Ruto is a one-term President.
So hostile has the region been that an attempt to assuage the residents through a one-week tour barely had an impact on the tide.
Among those who have remained loyal to the ex-DP are Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Senator John Nyutu (Murang’a), Kiambu’s Karungo wa Thangw’a, Kirinyaga’s Kamau Murango, Woman Representative Njeri Maina, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, MPs Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri) and Mukurweini’s John Kaguchia.
Others include Starehe MP Amos Mwago, Embakasi North’s James Gakuya and Embakasi Central’s Benjamin Gathiru, alias Mejjadonk, Manyatta’s John Mukunji, Gatanga’s Edward Muriu and former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru. The team is popularly known as Sauti Ya Mwananchi.
Despite initially signing the impeachment motion against Gachagua, Tetu MP Geoffrey retracted and has since then been an ally of the ex-DP.
Others who have joined the team are NCIC vice chairperson Wambui Nyutu, who is seeking an elective seat in Murang’a, and former Kasarani MP Mercy Gakuya.
Maragua MP Mary Wamaua, however, decamped from the camp and joined Ruto.
But as it is with politicians, political analysts say, many are aligning with the former DP to survive in 2027 elections, succeed in other posts or stand a chance to replace those who are pro-government.
For instance, Gakuya is angling for the Nairobi governorship and before the fallout in UDA, sought the party’s chairmanship in Nairobi against Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Gakuya has been a fierce defender of Gachagua on mainstream media and in various political meetings.
Waruguru, who unsuccessfully aspired for the Laikipia East seat, is seeking to recapture the Woman Rep seat or challenge Defence PS Patrick Mariru for governor. Mariru sought the seat in 2022 but lost to Joshua Irungu, who is serving his last term, in the UDA primaries.
On the other hand, commissioner Nyutu had publicly announced she would challenge Betty Maina, a fierce critic of Gachagua, for the Murang’a Woman Rep seat.
However, with the decamping of Wamaua, Nyutu is considering going for the Maragua seat, a matter that was discussed during a stopover in the constituency by the Gachagua team.
Gakuya (Mercy) is also strategising her comeback in Kasarani, and has in recent times been accompanying the former DP in some meetings.
Former NHIF chief executive Geoffrey Mwangi is angling for Nakuru governorship against Susan Kihika and has been meeting with the former DP.
Ex-CS Sicily Kariuki also paid homage to the Wamunyoro residence and will challenge Kiarie Badilisha in the Nyandarua governor race in 2027.
Others are former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, who is seeking a comeback, former head of Government Delivery Services Dr Peter Mbae, who is seeking the Nakuru Senate seat, and former Water PS Wairagū wa Maaī.
The alignments were also evident during a meeting of Murang’a leaders and President Ruto.
Five of the elected legislators skipped the meeting. These are Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Kandara MP Chege Njuguna, Muriu (Gatanga), Kigumo’s John Munyoro and Senator Nyutu.
Those who attended were Woman Rep Betty Maina, Peter Kihungi (Kangema), Edwin Mugo (Mathioya), Sabina Chege (Jubilee nominated MP) and Wamaua (Maragua), who until recently was in Gachagua’s camp.
Muriu told the Star that his position has been influenced by his constituents.
“I am a servant of the people of Gatanga. My loyalty is first to them. And what are they saying?” he said.
“They elected Ruto and Gachagua on one ticket with a voter turnout of 90 per cent. That Ruto promised and swore never to mistreat his deputy as he was.
“Now that the President changed his mind, they are fully behind Gachagua. And not just Murang’a, the whole Mt Kenya region.”
He said those still behind Ruto are being led by “stomach politics” and will likely defect ahead of the 2027 elections.
“You remember Wamaua in 2022. Where was she just days to the election? Jubilee-Azimio. So, there is nothing new,” he said, adding that those who went to State House are not representative of the situation in the region.
However, Sabina, who attended the meeting, termed Muriu's comments “personal opinion”, which she said is not representative of the constituency of the region.
She told the Star the meeting was a follow-up on the Mt Kenya tour and they were reporting the the gaps on the ground in terms of project implementation.
"The problem with some leaders is that they want to follow another leader so that they are re-elected in 2027," she said.
“But what are you doing to help the people who elected you? I think that is where we need to focus as we are just mid-term.”
JKUAT don Dr Charles Ng’ang’a described the alignment as influenced by social factors.
“An election is about euphoria, especially when it draws near. So the alignments are not really about ideology but sycophancy, loyalty and opportunism,” he says.
He adds that the money involved could be an incentive as it is available on both sides of the divide.
Already, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has announced he will not be seeking re-election.
While Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has not aligned with Gachagua, since losing the Budget chairman job, he has upped his criticism of President Ruto, a move analysts view as preparing the ground for a shift.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, meanwhile, has decried political witch-hunt following his raid by the EACC on Tuesday over Sh1.7 billion graft allegations.
He said he would not be intimidated and that his stand would not change, signalling a potential shift of allegiance.
