TUESDAY: The big plot to disarm Gachagua ahead of the 2027 polls

A multi-pronged establishment strategy is attempting to neutralise impeached Deputy President and DCP boss Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the 2027 general election.

The Star has established that the plan entails state infiltration, intimidation and buyouts of his allies, as well as fielding multiple candidates in his Mt Kenya stronghold.

At the heart of the scheme is also poaching of key figures from the United Opposition.

President William Ruto and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, acting separately, appear to be leading the disarmament plot, mounting a twin assault on Gachagua.

“They will ensure they cut him down to size. He is the glue that holds together the opposition,” governance analyst Martin Andati said.

The objective is to clip his wings and render him immobile on the national stage.

Andati said Ruto is likely to deploy state and political machinery to neutralise Gachagua, self-styled Kikuyu kingpin, who is increasingly viewed as standing in the way of his reelection.

“It is politics and we expect to see more as we head to the elections. It will be rough for him and he has to be very strategic,” he said.

In recent months, Gachagua’s allies, including MPs, have been on the radar of investigative agencies over their alleged role in anti-government protests — moves the opposition claims are part of the wider intimidation plot.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo said the opposition is fully aware of the President’s tactics but pledged they would remain united.

“We cannot disclose all our cards. We know the person we are dealing with. We are smarter,” he told the Star.

Uhuru, who fell out with Gachagua in the run-up to the 2022 elections, has  announced plans to revamp the Jubilee Party, with his favourite ‘Mr Fixit’, former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i as the former ruling outfit’s candidate.

Uhuru has emphasised Jubilee’s nationalist character, saying it is anti-tribalist and anti-regionalist, an apparent reference to Gachagua who is seen as a divisive figure.

A stronger and revamped Jubilee poses a direct threat to Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), particularly in Mt Kenya, where Jubilee still enjoys significant support.

“This issue of saying this party [DCP] is for this region and the other party is for the other region, is not correct,” Uhuru said.

Gachagua has been rallying the Mt Kenya bloc to consolidate support for his own party, rejecting Matiang’i’s joining Jubilee as deputy party leader. The former CS has or had been considered part of the United Opposition.

UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala described Jubilee’s revival as a hostile move.

“That party must be warned,” he said. “If you are in the United Opposition, do not come to divide the DCP stronghold. You have been sent with the red wheelbarrow [Ruto’s UDA hustler symbol is the wheelbarrow], it has no good intentions for our party leader.”

Uhuru is also seen to have pulled Matiang’i from the United Opposition arrangement, a move weakening Gachagua’s push for a 2002-like grand coalition to unseat Ruto.

The combative DCP party leader has positioned himself as the fulcrum of the opposition movement seeking to unseat Ruto and make him ‘wantam’.

The scheme to weaken Gachagua is already playing out before the November 27 by-elections for 24 national and county seats.

Two DCP aspirants for parliamentary seats have abruptly pulled out at the last minute, with one doing so after visiting Ruto at State House.

The move signals the President's infiltration of the United Opposition and his resolve to deny the DCP boss appealing candidates.

In late September, DCP candidate in the Magarini parliamentary by-election, Furaha Chengo, resigned from the party, citing frustrations and lack of transparency.

Chengo, who also served as a member of the party’s National Executive Committee, said he was disillusioned with the way the party was being managed.

“Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) as a National Executive Committee (NEC) member, effective immediately,” he wrote.

“This decision has not been taken lightly. But I can no longer continue in a role where systemic inefficiencies and a lack of support from key party officials undermine my efforts.”

The development came after the party’s candidate in the Banisa parliamentary by-election, Adan Mohamed, known as Kiongozi, withdrew from the November 27 contest.

He made the move in late September after meeting Ruto at State House, later pledging support for UDA candidate Ahmed Hassan.

DCP secretary general Hezron Obaga said the party would not field a replacement, saying the timelines had already lapsed.

“We just saw him at State House, announcing he had stepped down. Unfortunately, we had already submitted our candidates list to IEBC and it’s too late to replace him,” he said.

It also emerged that Kiongozi had come under intense pressure from clan elders to stand down in favour of the ruling party candidate.

Meanwhile, Ruto has intensified political activity in Mt Kenya, hosting large delegations at State House and dishing out ‘benefits in what rivals describe as a calculated charm offensive.

Recently, Gachagua accused the President of bribing Mt Kenya residents to back his administration and endorse his reelection.

“As the leader of Mt Kenya, the President will bring a lot of money here. We cannot bury an elephant with its tusks — take the money but do not give him our votes,” he said.

Ruto has also sent Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to comb Mt Kenya ¾ and beyond ¾  with vigorous political activities described as empowerment programmes.

The DP has been traversing the region and hosting delegations at his Nairobi residence and his Tharaka Nithi home.

He has extended the charm offensive to Ukambani, wooing Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka.

“We cannot accept that our brother Kalonzo goes with other crooks. They are teaching him things that are not his. He is a gentleman, a lawyer like me, educated, organised and a churchman,” Kindiki said.

“I am still trying in different ways. Even that brother of mine. I have not given up on him. Just like this. Don’t worry. Don’t be in a hurry. And tell him to come so we can help each other now and move forward.”

The DP spoke when he hosted grassroots leaders from Kitui county at his Irunduni home in Tharaka Nithi last week.

Observers say Gachagua could be exposed and his political base weakened if Kalonzo succumbs to the overtures.

However, the Wiper boss has dismissed the advances, insisting he will face Ruto at the ballot in 2027.

“Don’t fall into that trap of William Ruto using senior bishops from this region to convince me. They shouldn’t waste their time,” Kalonzo said.

Instant analysis

Opposition figures have said they will remain united, despite intensified internal jostling to head the presidential joint ticket. They said that while they will go all out to build their individual candidacies, they will, in the end, sit down and settle on one of them. Former Agriculture CS and DCP national organising secretary Mithika Linturi said they are committed to backing the person who selected to fly the United Opposition flag.

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Lobby raises alarm over alleged shift in fuel policy 

A grassroots rights group has raised concerns over a proposed shift in the fuel policy that could allow the importation of consignments with higher-sulphur content.

Mtetezi Rights Group warned that the move poses risks to public health and regulatory integrity.

In a press statement on Sunday, the rights group's convener Francis Awino expressed alarm over reports that the government is considering relaxing fuel quality standards to address potential supply shortages.

Awino said proposed policy direction contradicts recent government actions, recalling that between March 20 and 25, 2026, a fuel consignment was rejected for failing to meet sulphur content standards.

The incident led to the dismissal of senior officials, including Petroleum PS Mohamed Liban,  Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) chief executive Daniel Kiptoo and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) managing director Joe Sang.

The officials were all said to have resigned.

Mtetezi questioned the apparent reversal, pointing out that the government had previously assured Parliament that fuel supply under the Government-to-Government (G2G) framework was sufficient and that quality standards were stable.

The group now wants clarity on what changed to justify reconsidering fuel that had earlier been deemed substandard.

The lobby is seeking explanations on whether the earlier fuel crisis was genuine and if Parliament may have been misled and whether the same rejected consignment is now being reconsidered for entry into the market.

The organisation has called on Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and his Trade counterpart Lee Kinyanjui to provide answers within 72 hours, warning that failure to do so could trigger public demonstrations.

Awino warned that any relaxation of fuel standards could have far-reaching consequences on public safety, consumer costs and institutional credibility.