Gachagua to Ruto: Our alliance is to send you home, not share power

Party leaders Kalonzo Musyoka(Wiper) and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua(DCP)./FILE

DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at President William Ruto, saying their alliance is to unseat him in 2027 and has nothing to do with power sharing.

During the funeral service of JM Kariuki’s widow—Terry Kariuki—in Gilgil, Nakuru county, the opposition leader declared that his emerging political alliance is about uniting forces to defeat Ruto in the general elections.

Gachagua was responding to Ruto’s Monday remarks that “five men are grouping with the sole agenda of unseating him”, with nothing on improving the country.

“Ruto is behind the news, he is confused. The five people are meeting with one aim—to send you home. Nobody is planning how to share the government. That will come in later,” Gachagua said.

Their coming together was not for handshakes or positions but to send Ruto home in 2027 and restore respect to the mountain, he added. 

“The mistake we did in 2022 was to go to a wedding in someone else’s vehicle. We got to the river and we were thrown out. Let’s not repeat that mistake.” 

Gachagua said the movement he is building with like-minded leaders aims to save the country from “mismanagement by the Kenya Kwanza administration”.

“If in three years he has destroyed the economy, run down both the healthcare system and education in the country, then he is asking you to re-elect him to make Kenya a first-world country, can you believe him? ” he posed.

He cautioned the Mt Kenya region against internal divisions reminiscent of the 1992 elections, when political fragmentation cost the opposition, after President Daniel Moi divided the movement along party lines.

“DCP is our vehicle and our strength. Raila Odinga had a good vehicle and good conductors. Do not be cheated to divide our votes like in 1992. We must be in one political vehicle,” he said.

“I have formed one party that should be our strength and shield. That should be the only vehicle. The others are wheelbarrows.”

He reiterated the call to Central Kenya not to vote in different baskets.

“I am begging you to give me more soldiers. Give me a governor, senators and MPs here in Nakuru, including MCAs,” Gachagua appealed.

The funeral was also attended by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa and a host of opposition politicians.

Eugene laughed off media reports that he and Kalonzo are the prime targets of Ruto’s bid to split the united opposition.

The former minister dismissed the reports, saying they are committed to making Ruto a one-term President.

“We have agreed to walk this journey and we want to assure you that we shall not separate. Whoever is looking for us must do so through Rigathi Gachagua,” Eugene said.

“We are determined to walk this journey to send Ruto back home.”

Kalonzo, while eulogising Terry, lauded JM’s contributions to the struggle to make Kenya a free country.

“As opposition leaders, we shall carry on the task JM Kariuki started,” Kalonzo said.

Terry died on October 30, while receiving treatment at a hospital in Nairobi.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, popularly referred to as 'JM', was a Kenyan socialist politician during the administration of Jomo Kenyatta's government. He held different government positions from Kenya's independence in 1963 until his assassination in 1975.