From left: Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Tense relations between former president Uhuru Kenyatta and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua could undermine opposition efforts to forge an alliance against President William Ruto’s re-election in the 2027 elections.
While Kenyatta’s faction, largely members of his Jubilee party, appear to be fronting the presidential candidature of his ally, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, the Gachagua camp seems to be leaning towards Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Mr Gachagua on Sunday in an interview with local media dismissed the Jubilee party as a "red wheelbarrow"- a sarcastic likening to a yellow coloured wheelbarrow, the symbol of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
He vowed to lead his supporters from Mt Kenya in a mass defection from UDA to a new party and asked that they be vigilant against divisive schemes by President Ruto.
“Those wheelbarrows must be called out and our people sensitised to know their sponsors out to divide the Mountain,” Mr Gachagua said as he once again postponed to May the naming of his new party citing strategic reasons.
But Jubilee Party Secretary General Mr Jeremiah Kioni on Monday told Nation.Africa that "there exists no serious rift among Mt Kenya actors" adding politics cannot be translated at face value but must be looked at broadly.
"We have been pushing for the Matiang'i agenda owing to some considerations that need not worry you. As a political party, our position is that you can only mobilise followers well if you have a tentative presidential candidate," Mr Kioni said.
The former Ndaragwa MP explained that "mentioning Dr Matiang'i does not necessarily mean we are fronting him for the proposed alliance.”
“He is our candidate and we are open to progressive talk that will see us negotiate after we have strengthened our party,” Mr Kioni said.
Mr Kioni added, "despite any arising discrepancies, we are united in one agenda of having Dr Ruto out of power in 2027 safe for a few elements who have been working hard to undermine Mr Kenyatta and grab the Jubilee party from him."
He was referring to a faction within Jubilee that includes nominated MP Sabina Chege and East African Legislative Assembly MP Mr Kanini Kega that has been seeking to wrestle control of Jubilee Party reportedly with help from President Ruto’s camp.
Mr Kioni added that "we in Jubilee have no problem partnering with Mr Gachagua since he is the best-placed soldier to fight President Ruto.”
“All we are asking is that we accommodate each other, we act in good faith and we move as a team without grabbing exclusive space to dictate to the rest of us,” Mr Kioni said.
To Mr Kioni, Mr Kenyatta remains the Mt Kenya kingpin who should also be consulted on the political direction the region should pursue.
Guided by wisdom
"Remember that Mr Kenyatta had warned us that we were heading to a ditch by supporting Ruto. We all are in agreement that he was right. As we approach 2027, we should be guided by wisdom that leaves us with no room for a repeat of our 2022 mistake," he said.
Mr Gachagua was once an aide of Mr Kenyatta during their days as Kanu members and reunited in Jubilee party between 2017 and 2022 with Mr Kenyatta as President and Mr Gachagua as Mathira MP.
But their relationship soured during the 2022 presidential election campaigns when they supported rival candidates.
Then outgoing President Kenyatta sidelined his deputy William Ruto- who named Mr Gachagua as his running mate- and instead backed opposition candidate Raila Odinga, who ran on a joint ticket with Ms Martha Karua.
At the height of divisive campaigns, President Kenyatta’s government arrested Mr Gachagua over corruption claims.
In the end, Dr Ruto and Mr Gachagua won to become President and Deputy President, respectively. They kept up the pressure on the retired president whom they accused of sponsoring anti-government protests.
The raid on Mr Kenyatta’s family farm- Northlands- by goons in an orgy of violence allegedly sanctioned by the State marked a dangerous escalation of the feud.
But two years in office, President Ruto orchestrated the impeachment of his deputy who was subsequently removed from office.
In retaliation, Mr Gachagua has vowed to cobble together an opposition alliance to ensure President Ruto is ousted after one term.
Now, Mr Gachagua appears to have a soft spot for Mr Musyoka and also recently struck a truce with Ms Karua. On Sunday, Mr Gachagua could not hide his open bias for Mr Musyoka saying "we are exceptionally happy that the Akamba community have now been incorporated into our community as Mt Kenya South".
Jubilee party members have publicly indicated support for Dr Matiang’i.
"Yes, it is true that we in Mr Kenyatta's wing are divided along Wamunyoro (Gachagua's home village) and Ichaweri which is the former president's home village," said former Gatanga MP Mr Nduati Ngugi.
Mr Ngugi added, "What we have are games of ego where both camps appear to be convinced that they should individually be in charge of Mt Kenya's roadmap to 2027.”
“There are many meetings going on driven independently by both wings and all are scheming on how to take charge of Mt Kenya,” he said.
Mr Ngugi said more splits are beneath the surface "since we have those in Mr Kenyatta's camp who believe that after all President Ruto is not a bad guy and should be given a chance to rule for two terms.”
But a majority feel that there should be a change of guard in 2027 hence the Matiang'i factor, he added.
Piling pressure
Though Mr Kenyatta has yet to come out clear on his agenda, it has not been lost to pundits that he last December held talks with President Ruto who visited him at Ichaweri.
The retired president has, however, also come out strongly in support of the Gen Z youth who are piling pressure on President Ruto’s administration.
However, Mr Gachagua has continued to come out as a man who is unsure of how to deal with the Kenyatta factor in Mt Kenya.
He has since said, "much the more I agree that I played a major role in leading you into this ditch, on the other hand, the option Mr Kenyatta was giving us was not acceptable.”
Even after he has begged for forgiveness from the Kenyatta family for the political attacks during his time as UDA leader, the former head of state has yet to react to the overtures.
Murang'a Woman Rep recently offered to help Mt Kenya understand what goes on between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Gachagua.
"I can tell you without any fear of reprisal that Mr Kenyatta vowed in private that he needs nothing to do with Mr Gachagua. He holds him directly responsible for all the barbs that President Ruto's rule has directed his way so far including the infamous Northland's raid where among other things, his goats were stolen," Ms Maina said.
But Mr Gachagua has insisted that he harbours no hard feelings against Mr Kenyatta and his family "and soon we will move to make proper amends in line with our culture and traditions".
Mr Kioni on Monday told Nation.Africa that "we should not drag the community into any differences Mr Kenyatta might be having with Mr Gachagua, it is incumbent on them to pursue amends away from the public glare".
But Mr Kioni cautioned: “You cannot ask for forgiveness in public while doing nothing privately to make amends. Both parties have to meet at some vertex and address what divides them...everyone knows how big-hearted and forgiving Mr Kenyatta is".
Nyeri Governor Mr Mutahi Kahiga bluntly said: "We are waiting for Mr Kenyatta to invite us for a get-together goat-eating sitting where we will formally chart a purposeful unity to see us through this storm President Ruto has created for us".
Mr Kahiga added: "The task at hand demands that we all walk together, be clinical in our plot and execute it with surgical precision to emerge victorious".
Kirinyaga Jubilee Party chairman Mr Muriithi Kang'ara said Mr Gachagua and Mr Kenyatta are Mt Kenya Siamese twins.
"Let us be realistic, Mr Gachagua appears to be having the people while Mr Kenyatta comes in with experience and wisdom. Both need each other and it is only openness, reason and tolerance test that will see us break this stalemate," he said.
"Let all parties name their presidential candidates. In May, Mr Gachagua promised to name our regional party and it appears he will be its leader. Let all those other parties friendly to our interests name their leaders,” said Kikuyu Council of Elders Chairman Mr Wachira Kiago.
Mr Kiago said, "What we will later demand is all those party leaders to come together and early 2026 give us one presidential candidate to confront President Ruto".
“The little issue of differences between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Gachagua is being addressed,” Mr Kiago said. “What there is, Gachagua has since extended an olive branch, and peacemakers of Mr Kenyatta's calibre cannot be expected to have a problem reciprocating.”
