How DP Gachagua's traps to nab Raila at State House backfired

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has found himself in a political storm.

His traps to have opposition chief Raila Odinga completely warded off from government and State House have totally faltered.

Will he resist or align? Raila's strategic pact with President William Ruto has cornered Gachagua, narrowing his choices.

“Nimepanga hiyo Ikulu, nimeieweka mitego kila corner, kila corner…na niko na watu wakionekana tu karibu napigiwa simu kwa sababu huwezi kubali mtu ameharibu serikali nne aingie ya tano,” said Gachagua in past address.

“Mimi nalala na jicho moja ingine nalala ikiwa on. Nikisikia maneno nakimbia hapo hii serikali tulitafuta na shida nyingi sana hatuwezi kubali mtu aharibu.”

For Gachagua, a massive system failure might well be reported. Supposed traps around the State House to keep out Raila appear to have severely malfunctioned.

“Juzi nimeenda ng’ambo, nimeenda Italy, wanajaribu kupitia huko…nikarudi haraka, he is a Saul who has now become a Paul,” Gachagua stated in the past.

After being sworn in as Deputy President, Gachagua never wasted the moment to showcase an extreme streak of political partisanship.

“This government belongs to shareholders,” he remarked then, statements which drew intense public ire.

His shareholder stance may no longer hold as President Ruto pursues a broad-based inclusivity strategy, even welcoming the opposition he once fiercely opposed.

“Nawaambiia hawa watu wa upinzani hakuna serikali ya nusu mkate,” Ruto has previously said in a public address.

While the President has had an about-turn on his hard stance against opposition leader Raila, his deputy has maintained a studious silence as the former premier remains hopeful they can work together.

Political pundits say Gachagua's traps may have been set off in a progressive and calculated move.

On February 26th, Raila and President Ruto met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at his home.

Photos surfaced online much to the chagrin of the Deputy President's allies and supporters.

The meeting with undertones of political camaraderie brewing caught Gachagua by surprise, who would then escalate his statements against a power-sharing deal.

“Mzee wa kitendawili amenikuta kwa mazishi juzi hapo Nyayo akaniuliza nini mbaya, kwani unaongopa mazungumzo? Nikamwambia mimi siogopi mazungumzo, yule mtu naogopa ni wewe!” Gachagua stated previously.

Gachagua's encounters with Raila in public have been cordial, but political jabs have been traded on different platforms.

“When you are bitten by a black snake, even when you see a black pot you run away. Sisi tunakuogopa. Uhuru was my best buddy lakini wakati alishikana na wewe akataka kunifunga,” noted Gachagua.

A rift between President Ruto and his deputy Gachagua has in recent times driven the DP to the edge, his options with Raila in Ruto's inner circle may deprive him of some shares.

“Ile kitu hatupendi ni usaliti…ukitusaliti tunakuchukia,” Gachagua declared in the past.

The dynamic political stage has now seen Gachagua heaping praises on Interior CS nominee Kithure Kindiki and his poised return to Cabinet, despite reportedly not seeing eye-to-eye.

Gachagua had previously accused CS Kindiki of undermining his fight against illicit brew.

As the political discourse in the country unfolds to favour the opposition, the matrix in the coming days may shift.

Raila’s pact with Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 saw a drift between the then President and his deputy William Ruto.