Kibagendi Accuses Gachagua of Undermining Opposition Unity, Backs Matiang’i for 2027

By Monyonge Kebati

Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of undermining efforts to unite Kenya’s opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a strongly worded statement, Kibagendi said Gachagua had increasingly adopted confrontational politics and was more interested in attacking fellow opposition leaders than building consensus around a common political agenda.

“Rigathi Gachagua is currently the greatest impediment to the unity of the opposition,” Kibagendi said, accusing the former Deputy President of positioning himself as the dominant voice on issues affecting Kenyans.

The lawmaker said Gachagua and his allies failed to present substantive policy proposals during their recent political activities in Kiambu County, instead focusing their attacks on former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, Senator Richard Onyonka and himself.

Kibagendi argued that opposition leaders should focus on developing policies and a national agenda rather than attacking one another.

He also criticised what he described as attempts to divide Kenya along ethnic and regional lines, particularly the suggestion that political leaders should limit their activities to regions associated with their communities.

The Kitutu Chache South MP said no individual should claim ownership of the Mt Kenya region or prevent other national leaders from seeking support there.

Kibagendi further rejected attempts to portray leaders such as Matiang’i and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as merely ethnic or regional leaders, saying they should be viewed as national political figures.

He recalled the 2022 political campaigns, arguing that several leaders played a role in mobilising support for President William Ruto in the Mt Kenya region before Gachagua emerged as the dominant political figure in the area.

According to Kibagendi, he, David Mugonyi and Korir Sing’oei later recognised Gachagua’s effectiveness as a communicator and advised Ruto to have him accompany the President during visits to Mt Kenya and other areas with significant populations from the region.

Kibagendi said the political environment had since changed, with Kenyans becoming increasingly conscious of the dangers of ethnic politics and regional gatekeeping.

He also defended Matiang’i, describing him as one of the opposition figures with a strong national profile because of his record in government and the work he undertook while serving in various ministries.

Kibagendi accused Gachagua and his allies of launching attacks against Matiang’i after allegedly recognising that the former Cabinet Secretary was gaining political traction, including through what he referred to as “Wamunyoro consultative forums.”

The MP further questioned remarks attributed to Gachagua suggesting that he would not be able to control Matiang’i if the former Cabinet Secretary became President.

Kibagendi said such remarks raised questions about whether political leaders were seeking a President who could be controlled by political brokers or one who would independently exercise the constitutional powers of the presidency.

“The Presidency of Kenya is not a personal possession to be negotiated between political brokers,” Kibagendi said.

He maintained that no individual or political faction should claim ownership of a particular ethnic or regional vote or use such claims to demand political positions and other privileges.

Kibagendi also dismissed accusations that he and other leaders opposing Gachagua’s approach had been “bought by Kasongo”, a reference to President William Ruto.

He said he would continue to criticise both Gachagua and his own political allies whenever he believed they were wrong, arguing that political loyalty should not require surrendering one’s conscience.

The MP further alleged that there were concerns over a possible scheme involving individuals associated with State House to exploit divisions within the opposition and potentially target some opposition figures physically before blaming Gachagua and his allies.

Kibagendi did not provide evidence for the allegations but said he and other leaders were monitoring the situation closely.

“We will not be intimidated into abandoning our political cause or our commitment to democratic change,” he said.

The lawmaker said the opposition’s ultimate objective should be to unite Kenyans and defeat the Ruto administration through the ballot in 2027.

He called for a political movement based on constitutionalism, national unity and equal treatment of Kenyans regardless of their ethnic or regional backgrounds.

“Kenya belongs to all of us. No individual, no political faction and no ethnic bloc has the right to claim ownership of this country,” Kibagendi said.