Why the Gachagua-Kalonzo axis is uneasy with Uhuru

The re-emergence of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has unsettled the ‘United’ Opposition, exposing cracks that threaten to derail the outfit ahead of the 2027 polls.

The alliance led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka, is seemingly uncomfortable with Uhuru’s return.

They see him as a vehicle and godfather to advance former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s presidential bid, and a spoiler, particularly in Mt Kenya.

“Uhuru is pushing Matiang’i ahead of Gachagua and Kalonzo. That is why they are not happy with him coming back,” political analyst Martin Andati observed.

Tellingly, opposition leaders skipped the Jubilee National Delegates Conference (NDC) on Friday last week.

Instead, they chose to attend Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party NDC, held a few kilometers away in Nairobi.

On Sunday, Matiang’i was conspicuously absent from a church service in Kajiado county attended by the opposition chiefs.

Kalonzo, Gachagua and DAP-Kenya boss Eugene Wamalwa attended the church service

Analysts say Uhuru’s effort to revive Jubilee and quietly promote Matiang’i’s presidential run is fuelling mistrust within the coalition.

For Gachagua, Jubilee poses a direct threat to his Democracy for the Citizens Party

 (DCP), particularly in Mt Kenya, where Jubilee still enjoys significant grassroots support.

Speaking at the Jubilee delegates’ meeting, Uhuru announced plans to rejuvenate the party and criticised regional parties.

“This issue of saying this party is for this region, and the other party is for the other region, is not correct,” Uhuru said. “Let us have national parties that are built on policies, not geography.”

But Gachagua has been rallying the Mt Kenya bloc to consolidate behind his own party, rejecting overtures for Matiang’i to join Jubilee.

Instead, he has urged the former CS to form his own outfit to consolidate the Gusii vote.

In yet another pointer of bad blood, Uhuru cautioned Jubilee not to utter venom and instead preach peace, unity and development.

“Let us be peaceful people. Let’s not be people who destroy using unnecessary words. Let’s not be people who incite others; let us preach peace and development in our country,” Uhuru said.

Gachagua has been on the spot, pushing his allies in the opposition to form their own parties. He has particularly been accused of pushing the interests of Mt Kenya, in what is viewed as tribal politics.

Within the DCP camp, the perception is that Matiang’i is Uhuru’s project to undercut Gachagua’s influence.

UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala dismissed Jubilee’s revival as a hostile move.

“The party being unveiled has come to destroy and weaken DCP to dilute Gachagua’s popularity,” Malala warned.

For Kalonzo, Uhuru’s maneuvers are equally unsettling. He believes the retired president is reneging on an earlier understanding to back him after the Raila Odinga succession.

His ally, lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, branded Matiang’i a “state project” and a “political novice,” arguing his candidacy could split the opposition vote and hand an advantage to President William Ruto.

Njiru also questioned Matiang’i’s commitment to earlier agreements among opposition hopefuls that each would focus on building regional bases before uniting under one flagbearer.

On the other hand, Matiang’i’s allies see his move as strategic rather than divisive. UPA national chairman and Rigoma MCA Nyambega Gisesa defended his choice.

“Fred Matiang’i is a presidential candidate with the right to choose the party and coalition he wishes to work with. We are building a coalition with Jubilee and other parties to strengthen the opposition,” Gisesa said.

The unfolding drama now places Uhuru at the center of a tug-of-war between old allies and new contenders, raising questions about whether the “united” opposition can truly stay united heading into 2027.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

 The unfolding drama between Gachagua and Matiang’i is a critical test for the opposition. It reveals the difficulties of managing multiple ambitious leaders within a coalition that has yet to unite behind a single vision or candidate.

The accusations of being a state project and of hypocrisy point to an obvious lack of trust that could prove retrogressive to a united front. While the Gachagua camp views the Mountain as its rightful political base, Matiang’i’s move signals a fierce contest for that very ground.