By Mandere Onyinkwa
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of undermining opposition unity through political bullying, divisive demands and attempts to impose a tripartite arrangement.
Muturi warned that Gachagua’s approach could weaken the United Opposition’s chances of mounting a successful challenge for the presidency, arguing that winning State House required national alliances rather than individual or ethnic bargaining.
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“No Kenyan President has ever been made by one community alone,” Muturi said in a statement issued through his office.
He questioned Gachagua’s commitment to the collective presidential ambition of the opposition’s Wantam movement, saying his political approach risked creating divisions among leaders who should be working towards a common goal.
“His persistent attempts to undermine established cooperation and his insistence on tripartite political arrangements risk creating the impression that he is preparing for post-election political bargaining rather than prioritising the ultimate prize: State House,” Muturi said.
The former Attorney-General challenged the opposition to clarify whether its priority was winning the presidency or securing parliamentary and devolved leadership positions through separate political arrangements.
“Is the objective to win the presidency or to control MPs, legislators and devolved units while sacrificing the bigger national ambition?” he posed.
Muturi argued that a successful national coalition required compromise, maturity and strategic thinking, cautioning that splitting the opposition into separate political formations would undermine its prospects.
He maintained that no individual or community had ownership of the opposition or a monopoly on the country’s presidency.
“No individual owns the United Opposition, and no community has a monopoly on Kenya’s presidency,” he said, adding that political partnerships should be based on mutual respect rather than ultimatums and supremacy contests.
In seeking to challenge Gachagua’s position, Muturi cited the political history of the former Deputy President’s family, recalling that his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, won the Nyeri gubernatorial contest against The National Alliance (TNA), the party that produced former President Uhuru Kenyatta, despite GNU supporting Uhuru.
Muturi said the contest demonstrated that political alliances were complex and that no political formation belonged to one individual.
He further questioned the assumption that three separate political formations could automatically deliver the opposition’s presidential ambitions, warning against reducing national politics to ethnic arithmetic and regional strongholds.
Under the banner of “Komboa Kenya”, Muturi said the opposition’s political undertaking required sacrifice, discipline and commitment to a shared objective.
“No individual ambition should be allowed to overshadow the aspirations of millions of Kenyans,” he said.
He said the Democratic Party remained open to dialogue with leaders committed to constructive engagement but would not give in to intimidation or attempts to undermine its principles.
“Kenya is bigger than any one politician. State House is the national prize. Unity must not be sacrificed at the altar of individual political survival,” Muturi said.
