Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
There is still no political truce in sight between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua over the control of the Mt Kenya vote ahead of the 2027 General Election.
While Mr Kenyatta controls the Jubilee Party — which he has declared a key special-purpose vehicle for the Mt Kenya region — Mr Gachagua insists DCP holds that mandate.
Mr Gachagua has now used the Narok Township MCA by-election on Thursday to argue that Mr Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party is inconsistent with the political aspirations of the Mt Kenya region.
This is despite Mr Kenyatta having sanctioned his deputy Dr Fred Matiang’i to join the United Opposition brigade as a principal, tasked with helping craft a single presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
A fierce public rivalry has erupted between the Jubilee Party, led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the DCP, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Each side accuses the other of being President Ruto's "project".
“I don’t understand this Jubilee. Maybe they will start behaving consistently and in line with what the United Opposition stands for,” Mr Gachagua said on Sunday while addressing the Maa community through vernacular radio stations.
He cited the Narok by-election as an example, saying: “DCP has a candidate, and all the other principals in the United Opposition had agreed to withdraw their candidates in support of DCP’s Douglas Masikonde.”
Former President and Jubilee Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta (left) with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i during Jubilee Party Special National Delegates Conference at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi on September 26, 2025.
Besides Mr Gachagua and Dr Matiang’i, the United Opposition principals include Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, former Attorney-General Justin Muturi, former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, People’s Patriotic Party leader Martha Karua, and Kajiado Senator Kenar Seki.
Mr Gachagua lamented that “even after we agreed to jointly field Mr Masikonde, Jubilee went behind our backs and issued a nomination certificate to Joshua Kaputa.”
He added that “a few days later, the same Jubilee withdrew their candidate and announced support for President Ruto’s UDA candidate, Robert Kanyinke Kudate.”
Mr Gachagua acknowledged that Mr Kenyatta has been advising Jubilee supporters not to insult him during campaigns, saying this was a positive gesture. “We are supposed to be in the United Opposition pursuing the same goal of unseating President Ruto in 2027,” he said.
But Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri argues that Mr Gachagua is driven by an obsession with humiliating President Ruto and exacting revenge for his impeachment.
Mr Gachagua was impeached in October last year after serving as Deputy President for two years. He was replaced by Prof Kithure Kindiki. “Mr Gachagua believes his DCP is the epitome of democracy in Mt Kenya. He believes that anyone not supporting him is an enemy of the region, and that even Mr Kenyatta should submit to him,” Mr Kiunjuri said.
Interestingly, while Mr Gachagua has been traversing the Mt Kenya region apologising for “bringing Dr Ruto” to them, he now shifts blame to Mr Kenyatta.
He has declared: “In Mt Kenya, I am the present and the future. Mr Kenyatta is the past and retired.”
Political scientist John Okumu believes the rift between the two leaders stems from the question of the 2027 presidential candidate and control over political benefits.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
