Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is stepping up efforts to make the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) the dominant political force in the Mt Kenya region, setting the stage for fresh battles with influential leaders as preparations for the 2027 General Election gather pace.
Buoyed by DCP’s victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, Gachagua has intensified his campaign across the region, urging residents to unite behind a single political party. He argues that a united Mt Kenya bloc would carry greater influence in opposition coalition talks and future power-sharing negotiations.
Speaking during the Ol Kalou campaigns, Gachagua insisted that DCP did not need assistance from political groups that had not been involved in the race from the outset.
“I want to tell my brother Irungu Kang’ata, I heard him saying that he wants to come with Linda Mwananchi to Ol Kalou. We don’t need you there for DCP, unless you are coming to campaign for another party,” Gachagua said.
He added that those joining the campaign at the last minute could not claim credit for work done by DCP supporters on the ground.
“He cannot come and bring Linda Mwananchi to campaign the last day without knowing what the issues are and how the campaign is being done.”
The remarks appeared to underline Gachagua’s determination to establish DCP as the undisputed political vehicle in Mt Kenya while distancing leaders who have chosen to remain outside his camp.
His relationship with Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has become increasingly strained. Earlier this year, Gachagua warned that DCP could field former Water Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu against Kang’ata in the next gubernatorial election if the governor declined to align with the party.
Political analysts say the strategy reflects a broader effort to strengthen Gachagua’s bargaining position within the opposition ahead of 2027.
Political analyst Prof Macharia Munene said Gachagua is seeking to position himself as the region’s principal political figure before coalition negotiations begin.
“He has fashioned himself as this regional kingpin in Mt Kenya, saying he is in control of this number of votes, which we don’t know yet,” Munene said.
“Going by the politics of this country, he wants to have full control so that he has the leverage at the United Opposition table.”
Mt Kenya has traditionally rallied behind a single dominant political outfit during general elections, backing PNU in 2007, TNA in 2013, Jubilee in 2017 and UDA in 2022. That history has fuelled Gachagua’s argument that the region is strongest when it speaks through one political party.
Still, he faces competition from established political formations.
Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni has rejected suggestions that Gachagua alone represents Mt Kenya, insisting Jubilee retains a strong grassroots presence across the region.
“I am aware Gachagua is collecting views and wants to share them with Uhuru. I am also collecting views in my Ndaragwa Command Centre every Saturday. We are discussing what direction we will take,” Kioni said.
He also challenged claims that Mt Kenya’s voting bloc belongs to one political leader.
“There are 2.6 million voters who didn’t vote the Wamunyoro way in 2022. There are others who now feel misled. So the seven or eight million votes are not in one basket.”
Other parties continue to compete for influence in the region, including Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party, Justin Muturi’s Democratic Party and Peter Munya’s PNU.
At the same time, several prominent leaders have maintained political independence. Murang’a Governor Kang’ata, Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and former Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro have all avoided fully committing to DCP, despite growing speculation about their political futures.
Gachagua has also urged former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to pursue any presidential bid through his own political party rather than joining another Mt Kenya-based outfit, arguing that multiple regional parties would weaken the area’s political influence.
Analysts say control of Mt Kenya’s leading political vehicle could prove decisive as opposition parties negotiate alliances ahead of the next election. Beyond choosing a presidential candidate, those talks are expected to shape decisions on running mates, parliamentary seat-sharing and the formation of any future government.
Political analyst Dr Charles Ng’ang’a said Gachagua’s focus extends beyond electoral victories.
“Gachagua understands that numbers alone are not enough. The party that is seen to command the Mountain will negotiate from a position of strength,” Ng’ang’a said.
Whether DCP can unite the region remains uncertain. What is clear is that the contest for political supremacy in Mt Kenya has begun well before Kenyans head to the polls in 2027.
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