Threats and negotiations: Gachagua’s ‘Trumpian’ strategy for Mt Kenya

Rigathi has often publicly declared people not in his camp as ‘enemies of the mountain’ or ‘traitors’ and vowed to de-campaign them, while at the same time applying a ‘gather all, scatter none’ policy when he meets his former critics. 

“I have urged them to work hard to be elected. All traitors of the Kenyan people and our community who are helping William Ruto persecute our people must be voted out without fear or favour,” Gachagua recently said at his Wamunyoro residency, when he hosted 134 aspirants seeking tickets under his DCP. 

The strategy of threats and then negotiations seams to borrow from the political playbook of US President Donald Trump.

And a few days later, Gachagua hosted Jubilee deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni and former Nyandurua Governor Francis Kimemia.

The meeting came just days after Kioni called a press conference to announce that Jubilee will not participate in joint rallies with the DCP leader, who often sidelines the Fred Matiang’i-led party in favour of his party aspirants whenever they hold joint meetings.

“It is evident that our country stands at a critical crossroads, and decisive, people-centred leadership is no longer optional,” Kioni said in a statement after the meeting.

He added that the talks focused on the need to build a “united, inclusive and pragmatic path” towards addressing the challenges facing Kenya.

Insiders report that soon, Gachagua may meet former President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly and share a meal as a sign of his role as the Mt Kenya kingpin.

“Don’t be surprised if you see Gachagua taking mbuzi to Uhuru at Ichaweri as he seeks his blessings to unite the region,” a senior member of the opposition said, adding that Kioni’s meeting may be a pointer to such.

Just a month ago, Gachagua sought to project himself as the defender and protector of the interests of the region, following claims that the retired President was sponsoring divisions in ODM.

“We are seeing some ODM leaders attacking Uhuru Kenyatta,” Gachagua said.

“The reality is, it is not those young ODM leaders; it is [President] William Ruto who is sending them. Our leader did his part and pass over leadership to you [Ruto]. I have said I don’t want anyone attacking Uhuru.”

This was a sharp contrast to the Gachagua of yesteryears, who never missed an opportunity to attack Uhuru during the pre-2022 campaigns.

There were also claims that he sponsored the goons who invaded the Kenyatta family land in Northlands, stealing sheep and other items in early 2023. 

University of Nairobi don Dr Ken Ombong’i says the DCP leader may not get the full control of Mt Kenya he wants. 

“The results will be a mixed bag,” he said. “He has the sympathy of being thrown out from the regime that he helped build, yet that sympathy is waning. His language and political theatrics are antithetical to the central Kenya brand of political economy-led politics.

Following the Gachagua-Kioni truce, the Jubilee party boss was quoted recently praising the former DP on how he has handled opposition politics in the last one year as compared to veteran opposition leader the late Raila Odinga.

"What Gachagua has achieved in the last one or so years, Raila was unable to achieve for all the time he led us in protests," Kioni said in Ol’Kalou on March 25.

“This time, the country is united in saying 'Wantam'. We give that credit to Gachagua, and you should know that he is a man. We have a leader, and I will explain why some other time.”

Gachagua has been holding rallies mainly in the Mt Kenya region, hosting radio and TV talk shows and attending church and funeral events, while at the same time hosting delegations at his Wamunyoro home as he seeks to consolidate support.

He has framed his political journey as a quest to liberate the country by making President Wiliam Ruto, his footer boss, a one-term President for allegedly betraying the region that overwhelmingly voted for him in 2022.

In the process, he has branded Ruto allies as ‘traitors’ who should be dealt with at the ballot, with their only recourse being to abandon the President for his DCP.

Former Attorney General Justin Muturi argues that Gachagua’s strategy may work in turning the region into one voting bloc in the presidential vote, but other parties with presence will still harvest.

“The mountain is a very diverse area. Remember he has his DCP, I have my DP, Martha has PLP, there is Jubilee of Uhuru, Peter Munya’s PNU and others,” he said.

“No matter what we do, the region will vote overwhelmingly for one presidential candidate, whom we will pick, but other positions will be shared with other parties, much as DCP may become the dominant one.”

In Nairobi, where the Kikuyu community has significant numbers, his strategy seems to be working. Former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga, who is eying the Nairobi Woman Representative seat, recently decamped from UDA to DCP.

Ruto’s allies, who include Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruko, see Gachagua as divisive.

“We will divide the mountain if we must. Mt Kenya East will stand alone. The East will have its own title deed,” Ruku said.

He termed Gachagua a “lord of division”, while accusing him of promoting politics of hatred and ethnic polarisation.