Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faces a complex political balancing act as an anticipated reconciliation with former President Uhuru Kenyatta threatens to reshape opposition dynamics and challenge his ambitions for the 2027 general election.
Uhuru announced last Wednesday that he would visit Gachagua’s Wamunyoro home in Nyeri, joking that he intended to collect Sh1.5 million allegedly given for his 2017 reelection campaign but misspent. The announcement, made during the funeral service for Beatrice Muturi at Nairobi West Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Lang’ata, attended by political figures including Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Beth Mugo, set no specific date.
The planned visit marks the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes lobbying by the Kikuyu Council of Elders, led by chairperson Wachira Kiago, to mend fences and consolidate the Mt Kenya region following Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024. Gachagua, who has designated his Nyeri residence as a political "shrine," used recent 56-day consultations prior to an August US tour to rally regional support and vow protection for Uhuru's legacy. During the service, Gachagua blamed President William Ruto for previously driving a wedge between him and Uhuru, declaring that he would never allow anyone to separate them again.
While regional elders have welcomed the development, political analysts warn that Uhuru's return to active regional politics complicates Gachagua’s strategy.
