In the high-stakes chess game of Kenyan politics, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has unveiled his latest gambit: a sudden kinship with the Kamba, Taita, and Giriama communities as he eyes the presidency in 2027.
With the launch of his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua now proclaims these groups as “cousins” to his Kikuyu base, urging unity to form the next government.
But this newfound familial affection reeks of opportunism, a stark contrast to his divisive tenure as Deputy President, where he dismissed these same communities as irrelevant for not backing the Kenya Kwanza coalition in 2022. Gachagua’s claim to be a “truthful man” unravels under scrutiny, revealing a politician whose words shift with the winds of ambition.
During his two years as Deputy President, Gachagua’s rhetoric was anything but inclusive. He infamously declared that communities like the Kamba, who overwhelmingly supported Raila Odinga’s Azimio coalition, “don’t deserve government shares” because they didn’t vote for President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
In a particularly scathing remark, he belittled the Kamba, stating they “don’t have the numbers to take anyone to State House — their job is to follow Raila into the opposition.” The Taita and Giriama fared no better, with Gachagua mocking coastal communities, allegedly saying, “No vote, no roads. Period.” These statements, widely circulated and criticized on platforms like X, painted a picture of a leader who prioritized political loyalty over national unity.
Now, as 2027 looms, Gachagua’s tune has changed. Facing impeachment in October 2024 and a 10-year ban from public office, he’s pivoted to populism, positioning DCP as the voice of the “unheard” — youth, rural voters, and, conveniently, his newly minted “cousins.” His party’s symbol, a listening ear, is meant to signal empathy, but Kenyans aren’t buying it. “Selective amnesia,” one X user quipped, pointing out the absence of job offers or development projects for these communities during his tenure.
Political analyst Alenga Torosterdt notes that Gachagua’s shift is a calculated move to consolidate Mt. Kenya’s vote while poaching support from Azimio strongholds, but it risks alienating coalition partners wary of his ethnic zoning strategy.
The irony is palpable. Gachagua, who once scoffed at the Kamba’s electoral weight, now needs their numbers to bolster his fledgling party. His DCP launch in Nairobi, marred by chaos and gunfire, mirrored the disarray of his political reinvention.
While he channels anti-Ruto sentiment in Mt. Kenya, his outreach to other communities feels like a desperate bid for relevance rather than genuine reconciliation. As political scientist Amos Nyasani observes, “Gachagua thrives in chaos, but calm exposes his inconsistencies.”
Kenyans deserve leaders who build bridges, not those who burn them only to rebuild for votes. Gachagua’s “cousin” rhetoric is a masterclass in deception, a betrayal of the unity he claims to champion. As 2027 approaches, voters must see through the façade of a man whose truth bends to the demands of power.
The Kamba, Taita, and Giriama are not pawns in his game — they are Kenyans who deserve better than a politician’s convenient memory.
