Gachagua’s divisive remarks spark rift in United Opposition, draw backlash from allies

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is fiery and controversial, at least according to his political pronouncements targeting his Opposition allies and opponents.

He has cried out often that he has been misquoted and misunderstood, yet his demands are now testing the unity of the Opposition.

There is a feeling that Gachagua's statements could be isolating him as a self-seeking politician whose interest begins and ends with his region. Already, there's disgruntlement in the United Opposition movement with friction emanating between Gachagua and Jubilee Party presidential candidate Fred Matiang'i. It is also understood that People's Liberation Party Leader Martha Karua has kept aloof from the activities of the opposition outfit.

Gachagua has been forced to clarify his statements about the election contest in Nairobi in the 2027 General Election after he claimed he had agreed with Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo that it is only his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) that will field candidates for the positions of governor, senator and woman rep, and share 16 out of the 17 MP seats.

The remarks were widely interpreted as ethnic balkanisation and his dominance over other opposition parties. However, Kalonzo immediately denied there was such a deal, claiming that it was an attempt to create a wedge between himself and Gachagua.

Reacting to the backlash, Gachagua said he meant the positions would be shared among the United Opposition parties.

Nonetheless, his claim to the capital had echoes of his earlier reported demand for a 50 per cent share of government in the United Opposition's coalition negotiations in return for endorsing Kalonzo.

Speaking to the DCP Youth League last month, Gachagua said he hadn't made such a demand and would instead convince allies to back his bid.

"Let me confirm for the avoidance of doubt. We shall have a single presidential candidate," he said. I have seen William Ruto sponsored a headline in the newspaper that I will not vie, that I will leave for others to then demand a share of the government. Who told them?" said Gachagua.

However, analysts argue that the demands by Gachagua, if interpreted wrongly, could derail the chances of the Opposition ousting President William Ruto from power.

"If people construe Gachagua's statements as reckless and self-seeking, then it could work against their aim of removing Ruto from power. I think the opposition movement can work on their messaging," said political analyst Daniel Migai.

He argues further that Gachagua's sentiments could also be viewed as perpetuating his "shareholding politics", which was among the sins he was accused of committing in his impeachment.

Jubilee deputy organising secretary Pauline Njoroge opines that the United Opposition, particularly DCP, must resist the temptation to let the push for a leadership change in Nairobi turn into a tribal box.

"If we insist on approaching 2027 with a single-tribe mindset, simply because we desire to see a Kikuyu in City Hall, we will be handing Ruto an easy through-pass. He will mobilise every community that feels sidelined, and Nairobi will slip from our hands," she said.

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• Gachagua’s divisive remarks spark rift in United Opposition
• draw backlash from allies

Political analyst Herman Manyora has termed the aftermath of Gachagua's remarks a crisis, which was escalated by Kalonzo's reaction.

Manyora termed Kalonzo's move to deny the deal with Gachagua a "disaster" for the opposition and an unnecessary escalation that created a second crisis on top of the one the DCP leader had created.

Already, there is open hostility between Jubilee and Gachagua's DCP as the two Mt Kenya parties flex within the United Opposition and in Central Kenya.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has slammed Gachagua for his sentiments. Speaking during a public event on Sunday, December 7, the health boss said that Gachagua should respect the contributions that each community has made over the years to Nairobi's social and economic growth.

Duale claimed that Gachagua's statements are politically motivated and aim to bring a division between people from the Mount Kenya Region and other communities, who have shared a healthy relationship over the years.

"I really want the former Deputy President to respect other communities. The Kikuyu Community is one of our best friends and business partners, particularly in Eastleigh. The people who buy goods from the malls in Eastleigh, the majority of them come from the Mount Kenya Region," Duale said.

Duale's sentiments came hours after Gachagua denied reports that there was a battle for supremacy in Nairobi County within the opposition.