Lead image for Power struggle in Mt Kenya as Gachagua is accused of 'tyranny' .
Political tensions in the Mt Kenya region are rising, threatening to undermine the unity sought by various players in the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
At the centre of the discomfort are remarks that were made by the former deputy president and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua during his recent visit to Meru County, where he called for the dissolution of other parties and for their leadership to join his DCP.
However, a section of the leaders from Mt Kenya East side now accuse him of trying to micromanage the region and imposing himself as the regional kingpin.
In a press address on Tuesday, Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party (DP), Peter Munya of the Party of National Unity (PNU), and the Devolution Empowerment Party leader Lenny Kivuti expressed their disappointment in Mr Gachagua’s comments, accusing him of belittling them.
Mr Munya unequivocally stated that every political party is an independent institution established under the Constitution and laws of Kenya, and that each party has its own members, delegates, elected officials and governance structures.
“Consequently, unilateral by one pronouncements by one political leader purporting to direct, dissolve, merge or determine the future of another political party are not only legally untenable but are also deeply offensive to the thousands of members, delegates and officials who have invested their trust, time and resources in building those parties,” Mr Munya read the joint statement.
The former CS added that Article 38 of the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the freedom to make political choices, including the right to form, join and participate in a political party of their choice.
“These political rights are both constitutional and statutory and cannot be diminished by the personal ambitions or preferences of any individual. Gachagua therefore has neither the legal nor the moral authority to prescribe the existence or future of other political parties.”