The battle for opposition leadership ahead of the 2027 presidential race is taking shape, with a rift emerging between Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i.
This rivalry threatens to derail the opposition’s efforts to unite against President William Ruto’s re-election bid.
These divisions are not limited to the national level; they are also playing out within the Mount Kenya region.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s faction appears to favor Kalonzo, while retired President Uhuru Kenyatta is reportedly rallying behind Matiang’i as the opposition’s flagbearer.
In a recent media interview with Kikuyu-language stations, Gachagua dismissed the Jubilee Party—Uhuru’s political vehicle—branding it a “red wheelbarrow,” a term implying that it is merely a disguised version of Ruto’s UDA.
This remark signals his opposition to Uhuru’s push for Matiang’i as the opposition’s candidate. Gachagua, who once accused Matiang’i of using security agencies to frustrate him before the 2022 elections, remains skeptical about his leadership.
However, the real political bombshell from Gachagua’s interview was his vow to lead a mass defection from UDA and unveil a new political party in May.
“These wheelbarrows must be rejected, and our people must be enlightened about those seeking to divide Mount Kenya,” Gachagua declared.
Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni acknowledged the growing political rift in Mount Kenya, stating, “There is a deep division among political leaders in our region, with everyone pulling in different directions.”
According to Kioni, Jubilee’s focus on Matiang’i is strategic. “We believe a presidential candidate is essential for mobilizing grassroots support.
However, this does not mean we have settled on Matiang’i,” he said, downplaying claims that Jubilee is firmly backing the former CS.
Despite these internal differences, Kioni insisted that their primary goal remains uniting against President Ruto in 2027. “While some forces are working to undermine Uhuru and wrest control of Jubilee from him, we are committed to one mission—removing Ruto from power in 2027.”
He was referencing the ongoing struggle for control of Jubilee, where a faction led by Nominated MP Sabina Chege, with backing from Ruto’s allies, has attempted to oust Uhuru’s loyalists from the party’s leadership.
Interestingly, Kioni left the door open for a political alliance with Gachagua.
“We are open to working with him since he is among the few leaders capable of standing up to Ruto. However, we must unite in good faith rather than having some leaders dictate the direction we should take.”
Kioni further asserted that Uhuru remains Mount Kenya’s political kingpin and should guide the region’s political direction. “Remember, Uhuru warned us about Ruto in 2022.
Now, even Gachagua agrees that he was right. As we approach 2027, we must act wisely to avoid repeating our past mistakes,” he remarked.
Gachagua and Uhuru were once political allies, both having been members of KANU before working together under Jubilee between 2017 and 2022.
However, their relationship soured when Uhuru backed Raila Odinga in the 2022 elections, while Gachagua stood by Ruto. This split culminated in a bitter campaign battle that saw Gachagua rise to the position of Deputy President.
