Infighting escalates in opposition as Gachagua accuses Kioni of sabotage

The recent attack by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua on Jubilee deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni has once again demonstrated deepening divisions within the United Opposition.

Gachagua on Wednesday accused Kioni of being used by the government and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to sow discord in the opposition camp.

“You are pretending to be in the opposition, yet you have been placed there by the NIS to divide opposition leaders. You want to create fights between Riggy G (Gachagua), Kalonzo, Matiang’i and the others,” he lamented.

“He (Kioni) said that if I run, Matiang’i and Kalonzo won’t have a place in the opposition. All of us, including Sifuna, are one,” he added.

The DCP leader declared that they cannot betray Kenyans and are responsible enough not to allow divisions that could hand President William Ruto a second term.

Addressing his co-principals in the United Opposition, Gachagua warned them to be cautious within their respective parties, saying moles had been planted within their ranks.

“And I have been telling you this, but you are not listening,” Gachagua said in Murang’a.

His response was triggered by remarks made by Kioni on Radio Generation, in which he insinuated that Gachagua could betray the opposition.

“I don’t rule out anything or anybody. There are people saying we like Gachagua because he attacks Ruto. Let me say it here: Gachagua will run [for president]. And when he runs, other leaders need to ask themselves where they will be. Kalonzo and Matiang’i should ask themselves where they will be,” Kioni said.

Kioni added that Gachagua is the only opposition figure with clarity of mind, but for selfish reasons.

“He wants to build a very strong political party called DCP. He wants a certain number of MPs and to control government from Parliament. People admire that clarity of mind.”

“He wakes up every morning to attack William [Ruto] and ensures that by the time you go to sleep, you have heard something you don’t like about this government. But in between those statements, he is building his DCP party, not the United Opposition,” Kioni said.

The Jubilee deputy leader also expressed frustration, saying PLP leader Martha Karua was bolting out of the United Opposition over what he termed a “lack of clarity within that amorphous grouping.”

Karua has missed crucial opposition meetings in the recent past.

“The reason I am speaking this way is because I am feeling frustrated. We can easily let this go. We can easily let Kenyans down,” he said.

Kioni’s remarks come just weeks after he buried the hatchet with Gachagua following months of hostilities.

DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala termed Kioni’s remarks as irresponsible.

“If you are propagating and advancing the opponent’s narrative, then you qualify to be a mole. Why are you creating that tension? It is unnecessary,” Malala said.

Referring to Gachagua’s presidential declaration in Narok, Malala said it was in line with the principals’ agreement that each would market their bid before eventually backing one candidate.

Claims of moles within the opposition are not new.

During a meeting at Tononoka Grounds last month, Gachagua and Kalonzo claimed that President Ruto had planted moles within the camp.

Previously, opposition politicians allied to Kalonzo and Gachagua accused Matiang’i of being a mole, before later retracting the claims.