A convoy of 14-seater matatus arriving at the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s home in Wamunyoro, Nyeri/SCREENGRABA delegation from the South Rift has visited former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua at his Wamunyoro residence in Mathira, Nyeri County.
The visit is being viewed as another significant political engagement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Videos circulating on social media showed a convoy of 14-seater matatus arriving at the former Deputy President's home, with dozens of the vehicles seen parked within the compound and lining the road leading to the residence.
The visitors were reportedly in Nyeri for consultations with Gachagua as he continues efforts to consolidate the opposition.
The visit has attracted considerable political attention because the region hosts part of the larger Kalenjin community, the political base of President William Ruto in the Rift Valley.
The engagement comes despite repeated warnings by the Head of State urging Kenyans against backing the opposition coalition led by his former deputy.
Political observers say the meeting could signal growing efforts by Gachagua and his allies to expand their influence beyond their traditional Mt Kenya support base and make inroads into regions that have historically backed Ruto.
Since leaving office, Gachagua has transformed his Wamunyoro home into a political command centre, hosting a series of meetings with politicians, professionals, clergy, opinion leaders and grassroots representatives from across the country.
The residence has become the venue for an intensive 45-day consultation programme aimed at shaping the opposition's strategy ahead of the next General Election.
The consultations have brought together leaders from different political parties, former Members of Parliament, county leaders, independent political figures and aspirants seeking to build a united front against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Among those who have visited Wamunyoro in recent weeks are Democracy for Citizens Party aspirants, former legislators, businessman Jimmy Wanjigi, MPs Peter Salasya and Cate Waruguru, as well as delegations of Members of County Assembly from various counties. The discussions have focused on national governance, the economy, community welfare and the formation of a broad-based opposition alliance.
Gachagua has said the meetings would provide a platform for supporters, political allies, professionals, youth, elders and religious leaders to chart the coalition's next political course.
According to the former Deputy President, the primary objective of the consultations is to agree on a single opposition presidential flagbearer to challenge President Ruto in the 2027 election.
He revealed that a 60-member advisory caucus comprising elders, professionals, youth representatives and clergy had advised that the opposition had largely completed its phase of political mobilisation and should now shift its focus to identifying a consensus presidential candidate capable of uniting the coalition.
The latest visit by the South Rift delegation is expected to fuel speculation over the opposition's efforts to broaden its national appeal by reaching out to communities traditionally regarded as strongholds of the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
