Opposition rift deepens as Mt Kenya leaders’ clash

Fresh divisions have emerged within Kenya’s United Opposition, with senior leaders from the Mt Kenya region trading accusations over leadership, political influence and the future shape of an alliance seeking to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

The latest dispute pits former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) against leaders of smaller parties, with Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya accusing the former deputy president of bullying opponents and displaying dictatorial tendencies.

Gachagua, in turn, has dismissed concerns that he is attempting to undermine rival parties or force them to dissolve and join DCP, insisting that a strong opposition requires several political parties working together.

The increasingly public disagreement has exposed fault lines within the United Opposition at a time when opposition leaders are attempting to consolidate their support bases ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during Citizen TV’s JKLive programme, Munya said Gachagua’s alleged use of threats, intimidation and disparaging language against fellow opposition leaders could make it harder to forge a united political front.

“Gachagua is a bully,” Munya said, citing the former deputy president’s description of Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata as kiherehere and an alleged incident in which the governor was attacked by goons while attending an event in Ol Kalou.

Munya urged Gachagua to moderate his approach and adopt what he described as more respectful engagement with leaders within the opposition.

“We think he needs to act more responsibly when dealing with leaders and all human beings. Use your language in a more courteous manner. You’ll go further than you have gone,” he said.

The PNU leader went further, saying he would not support Gachagua if the former deputy president decided to seek the presidency in 2027.

“I’m hoping Gachagua is not a presidential candidate because I would not support that kind of a person to run the country,” Munya said, accusing Gachagua of exhibiting “dictatorial tendencies”.

“Those dictatorial tendencies are the same ones we are saying we don’t want in the current government,” he added.

Munya nevertheless said his criticism was not driven by a personal dispute with Gachagua. He recalled his friendship with Gachagua’s late brother and said their relationship had changed after Gachagua became Deputy President.

“There was a time when he was the Deputy President. I have never had any issues with him; I have never quarrelled with him. I was one of the best friends of his late brother. I went to visit his brother in hospital in the UK,” Munya said.

He claimed Gachagua later publicly labelled him a msaliti during a visit to Meru.

“Immediately he was elected, he went to Meru and publicly said Munya is a msaliti. He needs to walk slowly,” Munya said.

Despite his criticism, Munya acknowledged Gachagua’s role in exposing what he described as shortcomings within the Ruto administration.

“We don’t have anything personal against Gachagua; we respect him. He has done a lot of work in terms of exposing the failures of the current government,” he said.

The dispute has centred largely on allegations that Gachagua’s DCP is seeking to dominate the opposition’s political space in Mt Kenya at the expense of smaller parties.

Munya, former Public Service Commission chairman Justin Muturi and Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) leader Lenny Kivuti recently warned against what they described as attempts to arm-twist smaller parties into surrendering their political identities.

“Our restraint should not be mistaken for acquiescence,” Munya said in a joint statement.

The leaders called for structured dialogue, consultation and respectful engagement, insisting that any opposition coalition should be founded on equality, trust and respect for the autonomy of individual parties.

Gachagua has rejected the accusations.

Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence after meeting a delegation from Murang’a County, he said Munya, Muturi and Kivuti had been misled by reports that he wanted them to dissolve their parties and join DCP.

“I think they are misguided. I believe in many political parties because they will give us many agents,” Gachagua said.

He argued that having multiple parties within the opposition could strengthen the coalition’s ability to protect votes during the 2027 election by providing agents across polling stations.

“In Ol Kalou, we benefited because we had eight sets of agents against those of President William Ruto. That is why I want many political parties. I have never encouraged anybody to fold their political party,” he said.

Gachagua also challenged the smaller parties to strengthen their grassroots structures rather than blame DCP for its growing political influence.

He pointed to the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where he said PNU’s candidate received only 28 votes.

“DCP has become popular because its party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, and his team are working hard. So, I am telling my brothers, come, let’s work together, and market your political parties,” Gachagua said.

“If you don’t market your parties, you will end up making losses.”

But the disagreement has now expanded beyond Munya, Muturi and Kivuti.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa has accused allies of Jubilee Party deputy leader Fred Matiang’i of waging what he described as a proxy campaign against Gachagua within the opposition.

Thangwa singled out Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi, claiming that he and other leaders have repeatedly criticised Gachagua in different parts of the country.

“This man, whenever he goes to Meru, he calls Peter Munya, the former governor of Meru. Whenever he came to Kiambu, he used to call Gathoni Wamuchomba. Whenever he goes home, he calls Kibagendi. Whenever he goes to Embu, he calls Lenny Kivuti,” Thangwa said.

“Now, I want to say all those men that I’ve just mentioned, plus Wamuchomba, they are the people who have been fighting Gachagua all along.”

Thangwa said the DCP camp had deliberately maintained restraint at Gachagua’s request but warned that the party could now take a more aggressive stance.

“We have never said much, we have never said anything, but we have always noted,” he said.

The senator also questioned whether politicians who supported Gachagua’s impeachment while he was deputy president should be allowed into DCP, suggesting they could potentially undermine the party from within.

“Those people who impeached Gachagua, should we accept them in DCP? Because they could be sent to come and rock the boat from within?” Thangwa asked.

He also raised questions over the position of Senator Richard Onyonka, who voted for Gachagua’s impeachment and has since become increasingly active in opposition politics.