Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political standing has taken a severe blow following his impeachment, a situation made worse by a crucial misstep: failing to secure a binding agreement with President William Ruto before the 2022 election.
Unlike other Kenya Kwanza leaders, who negotiated deals to protect their positions, Gachagua relied on verbal trust rather than a formal pact with Ruto’s UDA party.
This oversight has left Gachagua exposed to potential expulsion from UDA, where he serves as deputy party leader.
UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar announced that the party’s National Executive Committee has already endorsed Kindiki as deputy party leader succeeding Gachagua.
Gachagua’s lack of a formal agreement contrasts with the safeguards enjoyed by other Kenya Kwanza heavyweights, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.
These leaders secured MoUs that guaranteed their roles within Ruto’s administration.
While addressing Mount Kenya supporters at a recent funeral in Limuru, Gachagua expressed regret, urging his supporters to be patient and strategic.
“We in the Mount Kenya region do not like making noise or protesting in the streets; instead, we wait for the right time to make our voices heard at the polling station,” he remarked.
Political analyst Mwangi Kinyanjui pointed out that Gachagua’s reliance on a “gentleman’s agreement” with Ruto left him vulnerable.
“His blind trust that everything would go well has left him badly exposed,” Kinyanjui noted, adding that Gachagua now faces the consequences of not securing a written deal.
Gachagua’s verbal endorsement of Ruto during the 2022 campaign was significant in winning over the Mount Kenya region, a move Embakasi North MP James Gakuya says was pivotal to Ruto’s victory.
“Without Gachagua, defeating President Uhuru in the Mount Kenya region would have been extremely difficult,” Gakuya explained.
Reports from insiders reveal that although some MPs initially favored Kindiki for the running mate slot, Ruto ultimately selected Gachagua for his aggressive campaign style.
However, this choice, coupled with Gachagua’s lack of legal safeguards, has left him sidelined in the aftermath of his ouster.
Analysts believe Gachagua’s next political move may involve forming his own party and forging alliances with opposition leaders.
Some predict he could join forces with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who recently voiced his support for Gachagua and visited him in the hospital after his impeachment.
If removed from UDA, Gachagua could establish a coalition with Musyoka and even former President Uhuru Kenyatta, potentially setting up a formidable opposition against Ruto’s re-election campaign in 2027.
Meanwhile, Ruto has shored up his own political base, aligning himself with former Raila Odinga allies, a strategic shift that may bolster his standing beyond the Mount Kenya region.
For now, Gachagua remains in political limbo, grappling with the fallout of an oversight that may define his legacy as one of missed opportunities and unmet expectations.
