Whether one likes it or not, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been sucking nearly all the oxygen out of the opposition space. His presence, his noise, his theatrics and his relentless positioning have made him the gravitational centre of anti‑Ruto politics. Even those who dislike him admit he has become the most visible face of opposition energy, especially in Mt Kenya.
And he has done something few expected, starting from the incumbent himself: he turned the tables on the President in a way that has not only deepened Ruto’s unpopularity in Mt Kenya, but extended it across the country. Gachagua has successfully branded the head of state as the root cause of the current iteration of economic hardship, and architect of broken promises and political betrayal of the mountain. But truth be told, the former DP is basking in victory on the shoulders of others — including Ruto himself because his inability to deliver on his own promises created the very vacuum Gachagua now occupies.
Still, even with all the noise and visibility, the signs of diminishing returns are unmistakable. His political outfit, DCP, has not taken off as Gachagua envisioned. At this stage of formation, Jubilee, ODM and UDA were national forces. DCP, by contrast, is struggling to find its footing. Worse for Gachagua, Linda Mwananchi has emerged as a powerful citizen‑anchored movement that has effectively halted whatever momentum DCP might have gained in its absence.
Jubilee, reborn and reorganised, has found breathing room to grow — and DCP has ironically become one of the obstacles standing in the way of that growth. Gachagua growing DCP inside the same political soil where Jubilee is trying to re‑root is like planting two fast‑growing plants in one small pot. One plant inevitably hogs the water and sunlight. It grows tall, gets proud and looks impressive — but only because it is starving the other plant. And when both plants weaken from overcrowding, the gardener (the opposition) ends up with two struggling plants, giving the weeds (Ruto’s advantage) room to flourish.
With the former DP out of the country on his US visit, other key opposition players have stepped forward — and they are shining. Fred Matiang’i, Edwin Sifuna, Ndindi Nyoro, Martha Karua, and others have demonstrated they can command attention and mobilise crowds without Gachagua’s shadow looming over them. Nyoro’s massive rally in Murang’a is a case in point.
So also, was the appearance of Matiang’i together with Nyoro in Kenol town after attending Kangema Seventh Day Adventist church in Murang’a county. This moments matter because they show that none of these leaders need Gachagua to hold huge rallies in Mt Kenya. They can do it on their own. Conversely, the DCP leader has been displaying mild tendencies of a regional strongman — insisting loudly that everyone vying in Mt Kenya should run under DCP. In his dreams, this would recreate the pre‑Section 2A era when Kanu was the only party allowed to field candidates nationwide. We all know how that ended.
Gachagua’s US trip, therefore, has become an unexpected gift to the opposition. With him gone, the political oxygen levels in Kenya have normalised. Leaders can breathe. Movements can grow. Rallies can happen without being overshadowed by Gachagua’s booming declarations.
And perhaps the biggest irony of all: Gachagua’s absence has revealed that the opposition is not dependent on him. In fact, it may thrive more broadly when he is not dominating the airwaves. Yet, within the opposition, there’s a quiet but undeniable reality: Kalonzo benefits from Gachagua’s dominance. Gachagua’s oversized presence suppresses the visibility of other opposition leaders. He crowds the space, hogs the microphones and keeps the spotlight fixed on himself — which unintentionally shields the Wiper leader from competition.
When the DCP leader is home, loud, disruptive and commanding attention, Kalonzo enjoys the cover. But when Gachagua travels — like now, in the US — the political ecosystem shifts. Suddenly: Matiang’i shines, Sifuna shines, Nyoro shines, Karua shines, Jubilee breathes, Linda Mwananchi expands. And Kalonzo loses the protective shadow he has been quietly relying on.
Short-lived as that dynamic may hold because Gachagua will soon return home, it at least exposes what is known by those keenly follow these things and makes it easier for the opposition to chart the way forward.
