‎Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged leaders allied to the Linda Mwananchi movement to unite, dismissing claims that their political alliance is driven by tribal interests.

‎Gachagua said the group shared a common purpose and should not allow political differences or accusations of tribalism to undermine its efforts to challenge the government.

‎“I want us to be together. We are one team and we mean well for the country,” he said.

‎“We are very simple people, but some others are branding us as tribal. Let no one tell us we are tribal. I am not tribal.”

‎Gachagua made the remarks when he hosted a delegation of Linda Mwananchi leaders at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County on Tuesday.

‎The delegation was led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, bringing together key figures associated with the political faction that has been critical of the broad-based government and the direction of the Orange Democratic Movement.

‎Gachagua defended his political choices, citing his support for President William Ruto during the 2022 General Election as evidence that he was not guided by ethnicity.

‎“When we supported William, he was not Kamau, he was not Njoroge, he was a Kalenjin, he was Kipchirchir,” he said.

‎His remarks appeared aimed at countering accusations that political alliances involving him and other opposition figures were based on ethnic calculations rather than shared national interests.

‎The meeting came a day after Gachagua returned from a tour of the United States.

He arrived in Kenya quietly Monday night, according to information provided ahead of the meeting.

‎Sifuna and Babu said social media posts that the group had been invited by Gachagua to the meeting at his Nyeri residence.

‎"Ahsante sana Gachagua and Mama Dorcas for inviting the Linda Mwananchi team to your Wamunyoro residence today. We believe this is a first of many engagements that will foster unity within the opposition as we gear up to the General Elections. Mbele kuzuri," Sifuna wrote.

‎The engagement signals continued efforts by leaders opposed to Ruto’s administration to build political bridges across traditional party and regional lines as the country moves towards the 2027 General Election.

‎The Linda Mwananchi faction, associated with Sifuna and other leaders critical of the ODM leadership’s cooperation with the government, has been pushing for a political direction it says should reflect the concerns of ordinary Kenyans.

‎Gachagua, who has positioned himself as a leading critic of Ruto since their fallout, has also sought to consolidate support beyond his Mt Kenya political base.

‎His appeal for unity comes amid persistent political contest over whether emerging alliances can bring together leaders from different communities around a common agenda.

‎By invoking his past support for Ruto, Gachagua sought to argue that political cooperation across ethnic lines was possible and that branding opponents as tribal was an attempt to discredit them.

‎The meeting did not, by itself, establish a formal political pact, but it brought together leaders who have increasingly found common ground in their criticism of the government and their calls for a different political approach.