Sibling rivalry amongst opposition parties escalate as Kiambu DCP delegates endorse Gachagua , hit out at Uhuru’s Jubilee

Sibling rivalry between the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has started playing out with a section of the former, majorly delegates drawn from Uhuru’s Kiambu home county endorsing their party leader Gachagua as the presidential torchbearer.

Led by Deputy Party Leader Cleopas Malala, the leaders also announced that DCP would field candidates in all the elective positions across the country during the 2027 general elections.

At the time of the DCP’s announcement, Uhuru was chairing a special National Delegates Conference at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi where former Interior Cabinet Secretary, a touted Jubilee’s preferred presidential flagbearer was in attendance.

During the Jubilee’s NDC, representatives from the United Opposition parties where Jubilee is one of them were a no show notably Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (People’s Liberation party), Justin Muturi (DP) Eugene Wamalwa (D-APK) and Gacahugua of DCP.

This comes at a time the opposition is faced with acrimonious differences on the choice of a common contender to face President Ruto in 2027.

Malala who addressed the delegates at Destiny Gardens in Ruiru sub county, said numbers will determine who becomes the united opposition presidential candidate.

At the same time, Malala took a swipe at the relaunching of Jubilee Party, terming it as a calculated move to dim DCP’s supremacy in the Mountain region.

“Our party leader Gachagua is our torchbearer in the forthcoming presidential elections. We cannot gamble about that,” Malala told the cheering DCP delegates among them gubernatorial, parliamentary and county assembly aspirants.

He also used the occasion to criticize the Jubilee Party unveiling event, claiming it was a tacit plot by President William Ruto to undermine DCP’s supremacy in the Central Kenya region.

“This just another red coloured wheelbarrow that is aimed at dimming DCP and Gachagua’s popularity here. We know the MPs associated with the party are the ones who were used to impeach our leader,” charged the official.

He added; “Engaging such an outfit is like a young man getting into friendship with a girl who holds a knife at his back. We should treat these people as our opponents, not partners.”

During the occasion, delegates unanimously proposed former Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina Jungle to contest the Kiambu governorship on a DCP ticket come 2027.

However, Wainaina while accepting the proposal said the candidate will be picked through a popular nomination process by party members.

“I appreciate the honour the delegates have bestowed one and although I have paid the nomination and membership fees, other aspirants are welcome to participate in the party primaries,” said Wainaina.

He also cautioned some unnamed politicians whom he said sit on the fence only to appear in the last minute to seek party tickets.

“There are people who are well known for waiting until the last minute to quit their party and hop onto the one that has popularity,” said Wainaina.