The Jubilee deputy Party leader Joseph Manje has fired a sharp warning to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of arrogance and overreach within the United Opposition coalition.
Speaking to journalists, Joseph Manje dismissed Gachagua’s attempts to position himself as the bloc’s de facto leader, insisting that all opposition principals are equal partners in the push to offer Kenyans an alternative vision.
“Hatutaki Gachagua aanze kubehave kama prefect ya wale wengine. He is a principal just like others,” Manje said, emphasizing that Gachagua’s abrasive conduct risked fracturing unity within the alliance.
Manje accused the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader of trying to downgrade former Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i into a regional politician, warning that such tactics undermine national cohesion. “Huyu Gachagua anataka Matiang’i akue local leader. Tunaambia Gachagua awache Matiang’i akue national leader — tumpatie kura akiwa Jubilee,” he declared.
The remarks come amid growing friction inside the opposition following Gachagua’s controversial claim of commanding 7.1 million Mt Kenya votes and his push to dictate the coalition’s leadership structure. Jubilee insiders say the party will not “take instructions” from a man they view as divisive and self-absorbed.
Political analysts note that Gachagua’s confrontational style—marked by public chest-thumping and tribal undertones—has increasingly isolated him even among fellow opposition figures, who prefer consensus over confrontation.
As the race to shape the 2027 opposition line-up intensifies, Jubilee’s blunt message lays bare the unease surrounding Gachagua’s attempts to dominate the narrative — and signals a looming power struggle within the camp meant to challenge President Ruto.
