Rigathi Gachagua’s engagement with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and former Kitui governor Charity Ngilu is exposing a contest over regional influence and opposition leadership ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Ms Ngilu’s involvement could challenge Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s influence in Lower Eastern as Mr Gachagua courts Mt Kenya and Western Kenya.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader hosted Ms Ngilu at his Wamunyoro home on Tuesday, comparing the emerging alliance to the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc), which ended Kanu’s 40-year rule in 2002.
Addressing a Nakuru delegation yesterday, Mr Gachagua recalled how former President Mwai Kibaki teamed up with Michael Kijana Wamalwa, his designated deputy, and regional leaders, including Ms Ngilu, to oust Kanu.
Former Kitui governor Charity Ngilu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Insiders in the Gachagua-Sifuna camp told Nation that Mr Gachagua was seeking to revive the Narc model through a “Coalition of the Mountains”, linking Mt Kenya with Mt Elgon in Mr Sifuna’s Bungoma backyard.
“We recognise the voting power of Mt Kenya and Western regions and are very keen on ensuring the two regions play a major role in our 2027 coalition plans. This is why we are deploying UhuRuto 2013 playbook to wrest Lower Eastern through Ngilu, should Kalonzo, whose allies have insisted must be on the ballot, refuse to play ball,” an official said.
The remarks angered Mr Musyoka’s allies, who see the engagement as an attempt to weaken Wiper in Lower Eastern.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a member of Wiper’s National Executive Council, accused Ms Ngilu of repeatedly undermining Mr Musyoka’s presidential ambitions.
“Charity Ngilu is a known political opportunist; a conniving old-school politician with absolutely nothing to offer in Kenya’s present-day political realities. Without prejudice to her right of association, the visit to Wamunyoro was the latest stamp on Ngilu’s signature tune; a person always looking for a chance to derail H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka’s presidential bid,” Mr Wambua told Nation.
He further claimed Ms Ngilu had worked with Mr Musyoka’s rivals during the last elections to subject him to vetting over his suitability to deputise the late Raila Odinga.
Mr Wambua described the meeting as an attempt to establish a rival opposition power base in Lower Eastern, but said Ms Ngilu lacked the support to succeed.
Ms Ngilu did not respond to Nation’s queries on whether the meeting sought to challenge Mr Musyoka’s influence.
Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua welcoming Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Linda Mwananchi’s Edwin Sifuna at his Wamunyoro home.
However, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, another Musyoka ally, dismissed suggestions that the engagement was aimed at undermining the Wiper leader.
“No, no, no. Charity is working with us. So, there was nothing fishy in that meeting (at Wamunyoro),” he said.
Mr Maanzo said the opposition could not afford to exclude any presidential aspirant or party, arguing that no single community or two communities could win an election alone.
“I’ve just been with Sifuna this afternoon (yesterday), and the truth of the matter is that one or two communities cannot win an election on their own, and we cannot afford to lose even a single presidential aspirant or a political party, or even just a single vote,” he said.
He added that competition for Western Kenya’s support made it difficult for Mr Sifuna to consolidate the region’s voting bloc.
The competing positions expose the challenge of building an opposition coalition without alienating presidential hopefuls, regional power brokers and their parties.
Meanwhile, Linda Mwananchi spokesperson Caroli Omondi did not respond to questions on the coalition talks, while DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala appeared to adopt a broader position.
Mr Malala said the opposition was building a broad alliance to remove the current administration, days after Mr Gachagua disowned his proposed Luhya-Kikuyu coalition and said he did not speak for DCP.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua(right), Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and DCP Secretary-General designate John Methu in Wamunyoro.
Photo credit: Pool
“Malala’s remarks do not represent the official position of the party. He’s just being a smaller version of William Ruto. When he’s speaking in Western, he’s speaking what the people of Western would want to hear,” Mr Gachagua said.
Mr Gachagua, after meeting Ms Ngilu, credited her with helping craft the 2002 Narc strategy, saying the opposition would eventually settle on one presidential candidate.
However, Mr Musyoka has cautioned against an early choice, insisting that consultations and formal structures must precede the nomination.
Wiper Democratic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua at Gachagua's WAmunyoro residence in Nyeri County on October 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
He said Mr Sifuna should await endorsement at the National Delegates Convention scheduled for November 13, where sections of the crowd booed him.
Mr Malala has backed a DCP-Sifuna partnership, saying in September that his party would not join Mr Musyoka’s Ukombozi Alliance.
Wiper officials at the Coast have vowed to support Mr Musyoka in a solo presidential bid if he is denied the opposition ticket.
Political analyst Geoffrey Mboya said the Ngilu engagement could broaden coalition talks but risked creating a rival centre of influence in Mr Musyoka’s Lower Eastern stronghold.
He said the 2002 Narc success rested on rival leaders agreeing on a common candidate and campaigning under one banner, a formula whose replication would require resolving leadership, nominations and party interests.
Advocate Chris Omore said Mr Musyoka risked losing political ground if he failed to accommodate other opposition players. He described the proposed Coalition of the Mountains as an idea yet to crystallise into an alliance.
