In what appeared as a veiled political ambush, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stole the thunder from Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s high-profile gathering in Tseikuru, Kitui County, on Thursday.
Mr Musyoka had invited top opposition leaders to his rural home in Tseikuru, Kitui County, hoping to use the occasion to solidify his grip on the Ukambani region and present himself as the most viable candidate to challenge President Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
But instead of a resounding endorsement, the event appeared to have been overshadowed by Mr Gachagua’s blunt remarks that placed the burden of opposition success squarely on the shoulders of the Kamba community — and by extension, on Mr Musyoka himself.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Eugene Wamalwa and other notable leaders address a crowd during a rally in Machakos town on May 30, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
Addressing opposition supporters gathered at the home, Mr Gachagua appeared to suggest that supporters of the former vice president were the weakest link in the opposition’s quest to make Dr Ruto a one term president.
“Ukambani and Kambas all over the country should add 4 million votes into our basket. The rest of the votes are intact,” the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party leader said Thursday as he called on the Kamba voting bloc to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr Gachagua used the forum to rally Ukambani behind Mr Musyoka, but urged caution when speakers pushed for the endorsement of the Wiper leader as the flag bearer.
“Kenyans should not push us to announce an opposition flag bearer so that President Ruto does not erect barriers along the way. Give us time. There will be enough space for all of us. The most important thing is that we are committed to sending President Ruto home,” he said at the forum addressed by former cabinet secretaries Justin Muturi, Peter Munya, and Mithika Linturi.
But it was his comments on the four million target for the Ukambani region that appeared to have struck a nerve with some of Mr Musyoka’s allies, who felt that Mr Gachagua had projected Mr Musyoka’s support base as the weak link in the opposition’s 2027 arithmetic.
“It is unfortunate that the gathering turned into a referendum on Ukambani’s loyalty and ability to deliver votes,” said an MP allied to the Wiper leader who declined to be named to avoid appearing to be rocking the opposition boat from within.
But Wiper Deputy Chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jnr asserted that attaining the four million target was a simple challenge that they will strive to deliver.
“It is simple. Map all Kambas in the country to vote as a bloc. He (Gachagua) qualified the statement by saying Kambas are in more than the three counties of Ukambani. So, we will facilitate the registration team to do registration in Wards to achieve the target,” said Mr Kilonzo, also the Makueni Governor.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior.
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua also downplayed Mr Gachagua’s statement, noting that the former second-in-command was simply challenging the community to rise to the occasion — not undermining Mr Musyoka’s candidacy.
“The numbers for the Wiper presidential ticket are a lot more than four million votes. The Kamba nation alone will deliver more than 4.5 million votes,” said Mr Wambua.
“The community is ready to stand to be counted among the voters who shall deliver the presidency under the leadership of Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka,” asserted Mr Wambua.
Mr Musyoka had organised the meeting to ward off President Ruto, who is expected to tour the region next month.
“Let us allow Kalonzo to be the one roaring in this region. Let us agree that he should be the only gateway to Ukambani,” Mr Gachagua said as Mr Musyoka took on President Ruto’s allies in the region who attended a consultative forum on Ukambani development at the State House last week.
The forum saw President Ruto renew pledges for undertaking roads, water, housing and other infrastructure projects in the region. “Shame on you those who went to the State House to beg for roads. Development is the right of all Kenyans because we pay taxes,” Mr Musyoka said.
The Wiper leader, seen as the Ukambani region’s political supremo also wanted to use the forum at his backyard to position himself as the opposition’s best bet to tackle President Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara and Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa came close to endorsing Mr Musyoka as the opposition 2027 presidential candidate.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (left), his DAP-Kenya counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua when they met at Karen Blixen in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Evans Habil| Nation Media Group
As the speakers took turns to slam President Ruto whom they accused of misrule, they stressed the need for unity among themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election. “
“We shall not surrender. We shall not relent in making sure that President Ruto is a one term president. We shall form a coalition which mirrors the 2002 coalition. We shall resist attempts to arrest Mr Gachagua. We shall kick them out of office if they arrest Mr Gachagua,” Mr Musyoka said.
“We should be ready to support the opposition presidential candidate, who will be identified by this team so that we send President Ruto back to selling chicken,” Democratic Action Party deputy party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi said.
