Kenyan Newspapers, December 4: Rigathi Gachagua Warns Opposition Against Relying On Him

Newspapers on Thursday, December 4, discussed various topics, while politics dominated the pages; the opposition is looking at the crisis while the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua warns that he will not take drastic measures.

Front pages of The Standard and Taifa Today. Image: Screenshots from The Standard and Taifa Today.
Source: UGC

1. Nation Today

The paper reported on the apparent split in the Union Opposition.

Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua he said that his party, Chama cha Demokrasia kwa Wananchi (DCP), will be the only opposition party that will compete for seats in Nairobi county in the 2027 general election.

The statement has created confusion and mixed opinions within the opposition.

Gachagua claimed that his party, DCP has reached an agreement with the Wiper Patriotic Front party to be the only opposition party that will compete for seats in Nairobi in 2027.

The statement has created great confusion within the opposition and divided the opinions of leaders and followers.

Kalonzo Musyokathe leader of Wiper Patriotic Front, has denied the existence of the agreement, saying his party does not agree with any plan to give DCP the right to run for seats in Nairobi only.

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Gachagua’s statements have been seen as a way to promote himself and create division, while identifying the DCP as “the main opposition party.

This comes after his fierce attacks against the Jubilee party, which he has called “Red Wheelbarrow” comparing it to the ruling UDA party, which has a yellow Wilibaro logo.

Gachagua has also criticized all political parties with roots in Mt Kenya, calling them “President Ruto’s puppets to divide the local votes.”

He also mentioned the President Uhuru Kenyatta like “former and retired leader” while introducing himself as the current and future spokesperson for Mount Kenya.

He also claimed that some of his colleagues in the opposition have been campaigning online without any real basis” and claimed that the Jubilee party is going against the values of the opposition.

Other leaders of the Opposition Union are Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party, Eugene Malwa of DAP-Kenya, George Natembeya, Governor of Trans Nzoia and deputy leader of DAP-Kenya, together with Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party.

Yesterday, Gachagua insisted that he was not wrong about the process of nominating candidates for Nairobi seats.

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“I insist that the DCP will take the Nairobi seats. Those who oppose us should just state their intentions, then we will meet for the contest,” he explained.

He also defended himself against accusations of promoting ethnic interests, saying;

“I’m just doing what’s right. I’m selling my party, uniting and protecting my community so that it remains important in the 2027 debate. Politics is not a wedding or a church service,” he said. But other politicians have shouted. Chairman of the Council of Elders.

Wachira Kiago, he said;

“The mouth can cause death, a man without secrets is dangerous even to himself. If the situation continues to be volatile within the Opposition, Gachagua insists that he is strong. We are very strong partners. That is why Kalonzo is leading the DCP campaigns in Magarini. If Ruto wants to take Kalonzo, he must come and talk to Gachagua,” said Gachagua.

DCP has said that it has already put in place strong strategies that will enable the parties that collaborate with them to win more seats not only in Nairobi but across the country.

“We will sit down and say where DCP is strong and needs Wiper’s help, Wiper will give us help. Where Wiper is strong and needs DCP’s help, DCP will help us. That is the arrangement. DCP has no plan to lead Wiper, we are partners,” he said.