The political rivalry between Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intensified following the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, with both leaders exchanging sharp remarks over leadership, political influence and the future of Mt Kenya politics.
The latest confrontation comes just days after Democratic Congress Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Waweru won the Ol Kalou seat in a closely watched contest. The by-election was widely viewed as an important political test for both the Kenya Kwanza administration and the opposition-aligned camp led by Gachagua.
Speaking in a video shared on his social media platforms, Sudi responded to comments Gachagua had made about his educational background.
“You said someone who reached Standard Two cannot advise you. When you were desperate, who was advising you if not that Standard Two person?” Sudi said.
He continued:
“He may even have reached Standard One, but he helped you become Deputy President.”
Sudi also argued that Gachagua’s removal from office was the result of his own actions, while urging residents of the Mt Kenya region not to draw sweeping political conclusions from a single electoral victory.
“You have won one seat, and you are everywhere in the media. What if you win two or three?” he said.
“I have told the people of Mt Kenya they can applaud you, but they should think carefully.”
Gachagua had earlier addressed supporters during a luncheon at his Wamunyoro residence to celebrate Waweru’s victory alongside campaign staff, polling agents, volunteers, DCP officials and allied Members of Parliament.
During the event, the former Deputy President questioned Sudi’s attempts to influence political opinion in the Mt Kenya region, saying local voters were capable of making their own decisions.
“I have seen that Standard Two person trying to guide this community,” Gachagua said.
“He wants to tell the people of Mt Kenya not to follow Riggy G. Do you want to advise these people?”
Gachagua also thanked campaign teams and party supporters for what he described as their dedication throughout the by-election campaign, crediting them with securing the DCP’s latest electoral victory.
The exchange is the latest chapter in an increasingly public political feud between leaders aligned with President William Ruto and those backing Gachagua following his departure from government and the launch of the Democratic Congress Party.
While both camps continue to frame the Ol Kalou result as politically significant, each has also signalled that attention is now turning towards expanding support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Political analysts have cautioned that by-election outcomes often reflect local political dynamics as well as national sentiment. Although individual contests can influence political momentum, they do not always predict the outcome of a general election.
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