DP Rigathi Gachagua’s options after Ruto, Raila truce

The renewed ties between the two political protagonists—which some analysts say signals an impending ‘handshake’—   follows Mr Odinga’s bid for the position of chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

 However, the quest has put Mr Gachagua, the country’s second in command, in a political quagmire, owing to his tough stance against any possible working arrangement between the Kenya Kwanza administration and Mr Odinga, leaving him with limited options.

The DP has to either join the President in backing Mr Odinga’s continental bid but tell his supporters it is part of a strategy to eclipse Mr Odinga from local politics, keep off the debate totally, bite the bullet and openly oppose the government’s position, or do the unthinkable and resign.

 Coming against the backdrop of his previous warnings, the DP indicated he had planned spies at State House to ensure Mr Odinga did not make any moves to have a secret pact with his boss, recalling the latter’s engagements with the previous three presidents. “There are some of our youthful politicians who are being used to divide us. The moment we agree to be divided, that will be the end of us,” the DP said at Embu Kenya Agricultural, Livestock and Research Organisation.

“Because of our unity, we have Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials in the government. We are also receiving tangible development and I shall not allow even a single person to divide us.”

 The firebrand politician has graced a number of events, including the launch of the 2023 tea sector report, after the Uganda meeting but uncharacteristically remained tight-lipped.

 He asked how the region would agitate for the promotion of tea, coffee and miraa farming if residents do not work together. “If we give in to divisions being created, no development will take place and we shall be doomed.”

 National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichug’wah, a Ruto ally, also maintained that Mr Odinga is a Kenyan candidate and his bid has nothing to do with joining the government.

 “Raila is a Kenyan. Just like we unite to cheer and support our athletes, Raila is competing against others on the continent to clinch the AUC chairperson seat and it’s Kenya’s chance,” explained Ichung’wah.

“Local political differences aside, he is not joining the government. We are simply supporting our own. We did the same for former Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amina Mohammed.”

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe also revealed that as Kenya Kwanza leaders from central Kenya, they have met and endorsed Mr Odinga’s AUC bid.  “We are all aware that the President has endorsed Raila’s candidature. This is the position of the government. Our internal differences aside, local politics will not be played on the continental stage,” he stated.

 “We have no problem with Mr Odinga flying our flag at the AUC and the DP is aligned. There is no belonging to different sides.”

 However, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba differed.  “Mt Kenya leaders campaigned for Ruto. We did not vote to accommodate Raila in government and give him a continental job. Githunguri people feel shortchanged. Why not support one of their own, if it is a Kenyan’s chance?”  she said.

Mr Gachagua has repeatedly ridiculed the former premier even for the sitting arrangement at state events, where he is accorded head of state status, yet he is not entitled. He cited the Africa Climate Summit meeting held in Nairobi last year. As things stand, the ball is now in the DP’s court as political observers say it may be a tall order for him to join the President openly in advocating Mr Odinga’s course “as this could disrupt his political bastion”.

Yesterday, Mr Gachagua, without discussing the Odinga issue, declared that he would not allow anyone to divide Mt Kenya region. Should he endorse the ODM leader’s bid, analysts say he could choose to spin it as a well-thought-out strategy to remove a disruptive ‘Mtu ya Kitendawili’ from the local political scene and not as a ‘handshake’.

Should he decide to oppose the government support for Mr Odinga, he will have adopted the Ruto playbook against former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

 Dr Ruto, then Deputy President, strongly opposed the March 9, 2018 handshake between the former President and Mr Odinga. But unlike Dr Ruto, Mr Gachagua seems to lack the political stamina to face a regime in its first term.

ODM national treasurer Timothy Bosire says, “Given the view he (Mr Gachagua) has on Raila and the opposition leadership, going forward will be quite a challenge for him, especially on how he will fit in the unfolding circumstances.

“He is likely to adjust from his previous position, but it might not be easy because he took extreme positions and this…