Why Gachagua is fighting to lock Ruto out of Mt Kenya

President William Ruto addresses residents after attending service at ACK St Paul's Church, Kariki in Othaya, Nyeri County, on January 11, 2026. [PCS] With the next General Election just 20 months away, political parties are scrambling to reinvigorate their outfits and shore up grassroots support. The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has set the pace by conducting grassroots elections and rolling out targeted mobilisation campaigns across the country. These moves have triggered a flurry of political activity among affiliate parties such as ODM, as well as within the united opposition, including Jubilee and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). Analysts argue that President William Ruto is seeking to rebuild confidence in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region ahead of inking a pre-election deal with ODM, a union that could create a political behemoth difficult to counter. "We are looking at a movement that would command immense financial muscle and enjoy government backing, which could prove detrimental to the opposition," says Gabriel Nyandieka, a political analyst. However, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his opposition allies are not taking the President's designs on the region lying down. Ahead of Ruto's recent visit to Nyeri, Gachagua had been traversing the region pushing his 'one-term' campaign, while positioning himself as the undisputed political kingpin of Mt Kenya. Through a series of meetings in Nyeri town, Kagio and across Kirinyaga County, Gachagua sought to blunt the impact of the President's impending visit. As President Ruto deploys his lieutenants in a coordinated push into opposition strongholds, questions persist over whether the Gachagua-led camp can devise strategies robust enough to counter the government's financial muscle. Prof Macharia Munene, a historian and governance expert, believes the opposition can withstand the onslaught because it still enjoys popular support. "The President is expending enormous effort and resources to reclaim support he has lost. He understands that ODM, as we formerly knew it, is effectively dead; he may have acquired only the skeleton, which is why he needs Mt Kenya," Munene says. Gachagua's impeachment Last week, President Ruto turned his focus on Mt Kenya, launching a renewed charm offensive aimed at repairing relations with residents who accuse him of orchestrating Gachagua's impeachment. On January 17, the President met about 18,000 grassroots leaders from Nyeri County at Sagana State Lodge. The choice of Nyeri was politically significant, given that it is widely regarded as Gachagua's political base. Each grassroots official was reportedly paid Sh5,000 to attend the meeting, meaning UDA may have spent about Sh90 million in a single day. Earlier, the President had met another group of UDA officials at State House, Nairobi. Ruto's regional tours, coupled with promises of multi-billion-shilling development projects, form part of a sustained effort to reclaim the support of a region that overwhelmingly voted for him in the 2022 election. Accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and several local leaders, the President announced plans to construct 8,000 affordable housing units, build 20 modern markets, and put up hostels to accommodate 7,200 students across the region. He said the initiatives were part of fulfilling his 2022 campaign pledges, adding that he would be "foolish" to abandon the people who elected him. He also commissioned the Karatina Marigiti Market and inspected the Marua interchange, a key component of the 84-kilometre Kenol-Sagana-Marua road project. "If anyone thinks they can spoil the relationship I have built with the people of the Mountain, they are dreaming. I am not done with you," Ruto declared. Perhaps most surprising was the endorsement of the President by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, a long-time ally and vocal defender of Gachagua. "If you implement the promises and projects you have outlined for this region, then you are assured of my support," Kahiga said. On Thursday, the President extended his tour to the Mt Kenya East region. While in Meru County, he unveiled a raft of multi-billion-shilling development projects, promising improved road infrastructure, safer transport corridors and enhanced healthcare services. "We are transforming Meru into a modern city through the construction of a Sh3 billion bypass that will ease congestion," Ruto said. The united opposition - comprising Gachagua's DCP, Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Party, Eugene Wamalwa's Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), Martha Karua's People's Liberation Party (PLP) and Justin Muturi's Democratic Party (DP) - says it has devised a strategy to counter the government's campaign. DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala announced plans to adopt a zoning strategy and field joint candidates in five counties. If endorsed by affiliate parties, he says the approach would help nominate strong candidates, particularly in cosmopolitan areas. "We have identified five cities where the cosmopolitan factor allows us to field joint candidates: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru," Malala said in an interview last week. It was also in Kilifi that the opposition announced it was strengthening coordination and building robust party structures ahead of the unveiling of a joint presidential candidate. DCP further disclosed that it had ratified its 2026 Plan of Action, with structured engagement with former President Uhuru Kenyatta emerging as a key priority. Party leaders believe Uhuru's influence could help blunt Ruto's advances. The plan was adopted following a three-day leadership retreat in Mombasa attended by party legislators and senior officials. Responding to defections from Gachagua's camp, Malala said: "These are politicians pursuing selfish interests. They believe proximity to the President guarantees monetary gain. But there is a clear disconnect between their actions and the true sentiments of the people." However, Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku is sceptical that the opposition can mount a credible challenge, especially if UDA and ODM formalise an alliance. "Regardless of internal party disputes, ODM's mass movement remains intact," Manduku asks.

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