DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County on August 18, when he hosted Wiper leadersDemocracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua and his allies have opened a new battlefront against Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro just a day after he launched his new party.
Gachagua is seeking absolute control of Mount Kenya and has promised to crush any outfit by having a clean sweep in the 2027 polls.
Nyoro announced People's Party of Kenya as his new home as he announced severing ties with President William Ruto's UDA.
However, the former DP’s allies have turned the spotlight on Nyoro, accusing him of of being used by the state to divide and cause confusion in Mt Kenya.
Murang'a Governor Irungu Kanga'ata had initially joined Linda Mwanchi but made a swift retreat after public scolding by Gachagua.
Speaking in Wamunyoro on Tuesday, John Methu, Nyandarua senator and DCP secretary general-designate, claimed the outfit was another strategy by Ruto to divide the region.
“After [Public Service] CS Geoffrey Ruku’s attempt to divide the mountain failed, we are seeing him now using another strategy which our leader [Gachagua] has warned about. We have decided here that we are under one party and behind one leader,” Methu said just a day after Nyoro launched his party.
“To cut us to size, Ruto has decided to take us back to 1992. We know all the wheelbarrows that are coming up. We saw one that came up yesterday (Monday) and we were waiting for it, as we know there was one coming from Murang’a, and there are others coming up in Laikipia and Nakuru.”
Methu said the next phase would likely involve sponsoring presidential candidates from the region.
Nyoro's strategy remains unclear.
However, his association with some Linda Mwananchi bigwigs suggest he could seek collaboration with the outfitt.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, a key figure in Linda Mwananchi, attended the launch of his party.
Should he team up with Linda Mwananchi, Nyoro could find himself in the same power negotiations with Gachagua.
The new war erupted just days after hostile exchanges between Gachagua and three Mount Kenya East leaders.
Justin Muturi, Peter Munya and Lenny Kivuti accused the DCP leader of bullying and attempting to arm-twist them to fold their parties.
Speaking on Tuesday and citing the Ol Kalou by-election, Methu said the region had decided on its party and leader, pointing to DCP’s commanding 85 per cent of the vote.
He also questioned why Linda Mwananchi had faced difficulties registering as a political party while “the wheelbarrows were being registered overnight”.
East African Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega, another Gachagua ally, told the Star thatthe Kiharu MP was introducing confusion in the region despite the existence of several parties.
Kega, who is seeking to recapture the Kieni MP seat on a DCP ticket, said the region had already settled on its party of choice and leader.
“You don’t reinvent the wheel. We already have a party, and a popular one at that. He was welcome to DCP and no one prevented him from joining. As we saw in Ol Kalou, DCP is the party of choice in the mountain,” Kega said.
He termed Nyoro’s move counterproductive and linked it to Ruto’s previous remarks that he was mentoring leaders in the region.
“It is important to remember the President is on record saying he is mentoring some leaders in this region. Nyoro has never countered those remarks. In his speech, he really didn’t castigate Ruto. I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he added.
Other Gachagua allies have similarly described the move as an attempt to establish a separate political centre.
Gatanga MP Edwin Muriu also termed PPK the “newest baby wheelbarrow in town”.
Gachagua has repeatedly used the “wheelbarrow” label to describe parties he accuses of being proxies of Ruto in Mt Kenya.
Following the Ol Kalou win, the former DP said they were aware of a wheelbarrow in Murang’a and would fight it as soon as it was announced.
But speaking on Monday, Nyoro said he and his supporters had already left the “wheelbarrow” party — UDA.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I know you all know we left government a long time ago and dissociated with the wheelbarrow party, the UDA,” he said.
He also said he had consulted Gachagua and other opposition leaders before launching PPK.
Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa questioned Nyoro’s political record in the opposition.
“The question is where were you when Gen Z were killed? Where were you when the Finance Bill was passed? Where were you when goons were destroying our property? Where were you when Ruto called us tribalists?” Thang’wa said.
Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia also reiterated the slogan: “One mountain, one party, one leader.”
Gachagua has previously argued the region must avoid division and speak with one voice.
Nyoro, however, has received support from key opposition leaders following the launch of PPK.
Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i said the move demonstrates multiparty democracy.
“Your latest decision will create more opportunities for effective political participation while enhancing our collective chances of restoring better leadership in our country,” Matiang’i said, adding that he looked forward to working with Nyoro’s party.
Governor also praised Nyoro, saying he was focused on fixing Kenya.
“I consider my younger brother or son, Ndindi Nyoro, to be one of the greatest political minds we have in the country,” he said.
