Fresh cracks hit opposition as Mt. Kenya leaders reject Gachagua's call to fold parties, join DCP

Fresh cracks have emerged within the opposition after a section of Mt Kenya leaders accused Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua of attempting to sideline affiliate parties in the region.

Leaders of the Democratic Party (DP), Party of National Unity (PNU) and Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) on Tuesday faulted Gachagua over what they described as attempts to pressure other parties into dissolving and joining DCP, warning that no single leader had been mandated to speak for the entire Mt Kenya region.

"Why are you saying, in the absence of those other leaders of those other parties, why are you telling them to dissolve and join DCP? And you just formed your party the other day. You found these other parties in existence. What has prompted you to think that they should dissolve and join this new outfit?" DP leader Justin Muturi said.

PNU leader Peter Munya also rejected suggestions that Gachagua had been endorsed as the region's political spokesman.

"We also reject any impression that Gachagua has been appointed or mandated to speak on behalf of all the people, all political parties associated with the Mt Kenya region. Nor has any consensus been reached conferring such authority upon him,” he said.

DEP leader Lenny Kivuti insisted that affiliate parties had a right to air their concerns publicly instead of waiting for closed-door meetings.

"We are part of the united opposition, would you rather have us talk about anything- the reorganising, the self-respect, about how things should be? You'd like us to keep quiet until we sit in a boardroom?" Kivuti posed.

The criticism came as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka intensified consultations aimed at bringing together opposition parties under a new political coalition.

Hours after the Azimio la Umoja Coalition's Joint Council and National Executive Committee authorised him to consolidate like-minded opposition outfits, Kalonzo held talks with Gachagua and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa at his Karen command centre.

According to Kalonzo, the meeting focused on strengthening cooperation among opposition parties as they work towards unveiling a new coalition to challenge President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance in the 2027 General Election.

"It was a continuation of what we started yesterday, it being understood I was given the mandate to reach out so that we can fast-track the formation of this new coalition. Kenyans are waiting for it and we do not have time to spare,” he said.

Wamalwa said the discussions also centred on building a united opposition capable of offering Kenyans an alternative leadership.

The differing positions underscore the challenges facing opposition leaders as they seek to forge a broad coalition while balancing competing political interests, particularly in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.