Muturi accuses Gachagua of political bullying, warns opposition risks losing 2027 poll

In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, Muturi questioned whether Gachagua’s push for tripartite political arrangements served the opposition’s shared ambition or individual leaders’ interests.

He warned that the opposition risked sacrificing its presidential bid as leaders sought control of parliamentary seats and devolved units to strengthen their bargaining power.

“Is the objective to win the presidency or to control MPs, legislators and devolved units while sacrificing the bigger national ambition?” he posed.

Muturi said winning State House required national consensus and strategic alliances that united Kenyans across ethnic and regional boundaries.

He cautioned that no individual or political community owned the United Opposition, insisting that cooperation must be anchored in mutual respect rather than ultimatums, intimidation or contests for supremacy.

The former National Assembly Speaker also challenged the assumption that bringing together three political formations would automatically deliver victory for the opposition’s ‘Wantam’ movement.

Reducing the presidential contest to ethnic numbers, regional strongholds and individual bargaining power, he argued, risked undermining the aspirations of Kenyans seeking political change.

Muturi challenged opposition leaders to decide whether they were building a national movement behind a common presidential candidate or separate political strongholds whose interests would be negotiated after the elections.

He also drew on Gachagua’s family political history, citing his late brother Nderitu Gachagua’s gubernatorial victory against The National Alliance (TNA), the party on which former President Uhuru Kenyatta contested the presidency.

Muturi noted that Nderitu won on a Grand National Union (GNU) ticket despite the party supporting Uhuru’s presidential bid, arguing that the outcome illustrated the complexity of political alliances.

He said the opposition’s pursuit of power required sacrifice, discipline and commitment to a common objective.

Muturi maintained that the Democratic Party remained open to dialogue and constructive solutions but would resist intimidation or attempts to undermine its principles.

“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.