Matiang’i-Gachagua rivalry spills to handlers

The political feud between former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has escalated beyond the principal actors, spilling into the public domain through their handlers and party loyalists.

The widening rift exposes deepening fissures within the united opposition coalition that threaten the much-needed solidarity just years before the 2027 general election, where they are set to face off with President William Ruto.

What began as a war of words between two prominent political figures has now trickled down to their supporters, with party officials and online propagandists taking up arms in a conflict that threatens the very soul of the opposition.

The battle has evolved beyond personal differences to encompass competing political ideologies and contrasting strategies for capturing power from the Kenya Kwanza regime.

Voices from the DCP camp have grown increasingly combative, regularly targeting Matiang'i and his political strategies.

The tensions became undeniable when Jubilee Party deputy organising secretary Pauline Njoroge publicly acknowledged the fallout while articulating Matiang'i's perspective.

"Divisions and infighting cannot be part of our journey at this critical stage," Njoroge said. "If we organise early, align our narrative to the everyday realities of the people and what we plan to do for them, and invest smartly and strategically, victory in 2027 is within reach."

The conflict intensified when a DCP youth leader accused Matiang'i of harbouring a 'dagger' against them, citing his meetings with rival political factions as evidence of bad faith.

The narrative that Jubilee and Matiang'i are conspiring with the ruling government to weaken Gachagua's DCP, particularly in the critical Mt Kenya region, has gained traction among opposition circles.

The digital arena has become a particularly heated battleground for the two sides, with the same escalating after the united opposition’s dismal performance in the recent by-elections.

Gachagua's chief social media strategist, Kenneth Njohi, popularly known as Councillor Njohi, openly declared that "it is practically impossible for Jubilee and DCP to co-exist harmoniously in Mlima (Mt Kenya)."

In a provocative statement, Njohi argued that "Jubilee is a Nyanza party and does not represent the interests and aspirations of the mountain people," adding that "the red wheelbarrow shall be very useful in transporting manure in banana plantations."

Njohi's posts followed closely on his criticism of what he termed 'small wheelbarrows' for denying DCP the Mbeere North win.

He specifically criticised Jubilee for not campaigning for the DCP candidate Newton Karish and took issue with Matiang'i's timing in showing up to condole with Lenny Kivuti's family.

"Never again should DCP cede ground in the mountain to support a candidate from those small briefcase parties," Njohi said. "We must close all those small wheelbarrows and focus on building DCP."

These digital provocations have ignited sharp reactions from Matiang'i's supporters, including lawyer Wahome Thuku, suggesting that the Jubilee deputy party leader is a more nationalist figure, drawing a contrast with Gachagua.

“It is called respecting people's choices and decisions even when they don't favour you. Reason I am telling you, we have a real nationalist here, the President we want,” he said.

The situation grew more complex when Njoroge claimed that Matiang'i had personally expressed concern about bloggers who loudly profess support for him while attacking other opposition leaders.

According to Njoroge, "Dr Fred Matiang'i called me earlier this evening after reading my post on Mt Kenya bloggers aligned to him and Gachagua, who are busy stoking internal fights."

Njoroge detailed how the former CS expressed deep concern about the posts and denied hiring any bloggers.

"You must keep calling out those bloggers who are creating discord in the opposition," she quoted Matiang'i as saying.

"They are clearly pushing someone else's agenda, and no one should pretend to support me while fighting my colleagues in the opposition."

Beneath these public skirmishes lies the high-stakes game of ethnic and regional political calculus.

Gachagua's repeated suggestions that Matiang'i should focus on consolidating his support in the Kisii region represent more than mere advice; they reflect the underlying territorial tensions shaping the conflict.

This regional dimension became particularly evident when Gachagua and DCP notably failed to acknowledge opposition victories in Matiang'i's Gusii backyard, where UPA, a party the ex-CS was previously associated with, won two MCA seats in Nyamira county.

Political analysts are sounding alarms about the consequences of this public infighting.

Professor Olang Sana of Maseno University warns that "this public infighting is a gift to President William Ruto's administration."

He explains that "a divided opposition, one that is busy trading barbs and questioning each other's loyalties, projects weakness and disorganisation to the electorate.”

“Instead of presenting a viable alternative government, the opposition risks appearing too preoccupied with internal squabbles to effectively hold the ruling party to account,” he stated.