Wamunyoro: How Gachagua turned a sleepy village into Mt. Kenya's new centre of power

Gachagua wasted no time in regrouping, dusting himself up and marshaling his troops for what could ultimately become one of the greatest comeback stories ever told.

Armed with decades-long experience in political craftsmanship, Gachagua set out to remind friend and foe that he was no pushover - despite having just lost the second most powerful office in the land. Gachagua's indisputable knack for rallying the masses and playing up a tribal storm would soon be put to test.

Even before his eventual expulsion, the former Mathira MP had already assembled a stellar team of members of Parliament, governors and senators and, as his televised fall came crushing. They stepped forward with a foreboding injunction - you will regret what you've just done.

From Nyeri Governor Kahiga Mutahi, to Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Ruto and his men were openly told to brace for a knackering political duel which would not only badly dent their political fortunes but which could also fundamentally see them loose the all-too-important Mt. Kenya bloc.

Wounded but still ready for combat, Gachagua, who had been hounded out of the Deputy President's official abode in Karen, quickly converted his Wamunyoro home into the new center of power.

A once sleepy village would then make headlines as from there, Riggy G meets dignitaries, plans his next move, welcomes defectors, issues directives and sketches out his political roadmap.

Previously a virtually unknown address, which probably housed just the Gachagua household and a few political heads, Wamunyoro's popularity shot overnight. Besides State House, Wamunyoro unquestionably became the second most powerful home on the land, despite being a hitherto unsung private home nestled in the lush Nyeri greenery.

Almost every day, the former DP shares photos of yet another contingent which came calling. From Members of County Assembly to elders from Kajiado to religious leaders from Meru or just old political buddies.

As has now become tradition, Gachagua loves to host his guests in the open. He normally gathers them in a round setting in his expansive green compound where they sit on patterned wingback seats and cluster around their host.

The DP's Karen residence came with all the lavishness and pomposity of externally funded indulgencies. Wamunyoro may lack the flair and powerful panache of Gachagua's former home, but it does certainly serve the purpose currently on the timetable - to wrest power from William Ruto and avenge his removal from office.

Last week, the residence saw a steady troop of high-profile guests which included Geoffrey Mwangi, former NHIF CEO, Dr. Peter Mbae, the immediate former Head of Government Delivery Services (GDS), Eng Hilary James Nyaanga and former PS Mr Wairagū wa Maaī.

So alluring is the Wamunyoro charm that people have been making a beeline in order to seek audience with the residence's owner and affix themselves into his burgeoning political master plan.

Others may not even seem to have any plan at all, they're probably just caught up in the bedazzlement of the self-appointed King of the Mountain.

His choice to centralise his dealings at Wamunyoro also appear to have been informed by the fact that, to properly capture the Mountain's soul, and cement his position as the unrivaled Central Kenya potentate, Gachagua had to set up base in Nyeri, the heartland of the Kikuyu.

The Wamunyoro native, who just last week paid a courtesy call to Martha Karua, and has been on a drive to shop for possible coalition partners, will soon be expected to announce his political vehicle ahead of 2027.

And as the lobbying gathers steam, Wamunyoro is definitely going to witness heightened activity - and the home's staff will definitely need to ask for a pay rise.