Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of political bullying and undermining opposition unity, warning that his approach could derail efforts to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, November 2, Muturi questioned Gachagua’s commitment to the United Opposition's presidential ambitions, accusing him of pushing political arrangements that could divide the coalition.
Muturi took issue with Gachagua’s proposed tripartite political arrangement, warning that it could weaken the opposition's chances of capturing State House.
“I wish to put the United Opposition on notice: the current political trajectory being pursued by Mr Gachagua raises serious questions about his commitment to the collective presidential ambition of the Wantam movement,” Muturi said.
He claimed Gachagua’s insistence on separate political formations raised questions about whether his priority was winning the presidency or positioning himself for political negotiations after the elections.
The former Attorney General questioned whether opposition leaders were focused on securing State House or controlling parliamentary and county positions.
“Is the objective to win the presidency or to control MPs, legislators and devolved units while sacrificing the bigger national ambition?” he posed.
Muturi argued that no single community could determine Kenya’s presidency, insisting that a successful opposition coalition must appeal to voters across ethnic and regional lines.
He warned against what he described as political supremacy contests within the opposition, saying leadership should be built on cooperation rather than intimidation.
“No individual owns the United Opposition, and no community has a monopoly on Kenya’s presidency,” Muturi declared.
The DP leader dismissed the notion that dividing the opposition into three political blocs would automatically deliver victory against Ruto.
“A tripartite arrangement is not a magic formula for State House,” he said.
Muturi also invoked the political history of Gachagua’s family, citing how his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, won the gubernatorial race against a candidate backed by The National Alliance (TNA), despite supporting Uhuru Kenyatta's presidential bid.
He said the example demonstrated that political alliances were complex and could not be controlled by one individual.
His remarks come amid disagreements within the United Opposition over the political strategy and alliances needed to challenge Ruto in 2027.
Gachagua has advocated a political arrangement bringing together influential regional voting blocs, including Mt Kenya, Western Kenya and Ukambani, as a strategy for defeating the President.
Muturi, however, warned that such an approach risked reducing the presidential contest to ethnic arithmetic and individual political interests.
He challenged the opposition to decide whether it wanted a united national movement or separate political formations seeking individual bargaining power.
Despite the sharp criticism, Muturi said the Democratic Party remained open to dialogue with other opposition leaders, provided discussions were based on mutual respect.
He maintained that the party would not bow to intimidation or compromise its principles for political convenience.
“Kenya is bigger than any one politician. State House is the national prize. Unity must not be sacrificed at the altar of individual political survival,” he said.
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