Gachagua Fires Back at Muturi, Munya and Kivuti Over Claims He Wants Mt Kenya Parties Dissolved
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims that he is pressuring political leaders from the Mt Kenya region to dissolve their parties and join his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), insisting that he supports a competitive multi-party political landscape.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 5, at his Wamunyoro residence, Gachagua responded to criticism from former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya and former Senator Lenny Kivuti, who had accused him of attempting to dominate the region’s political space.
Gachagua termed the accusations “misguided,” maintaining that he has never demanded that any leader fold their political party in favor of DCP.
According to the former deputy president, his vision for the Mt Kenya region is one where several political parties coexist and compete fairly, giving residents the freedom to choose leaders and ideas they believe best represent their interests.
“I have never asked anyone to dissolve their political party. We want many political parties in Mt Kenya because that strengthens democracy and gives people options,” Gachagua said.
He argued that DCP’s growing popularity is the result of consistent grassroots mobilization rather than efforts to weaken rival political parties. He credited the party’s rise to frequent public engagements and rallies held across different counties in the region.
Gachagua challenged his political rivals to invest more effort in building and marketing their own parties instead of criticizing DCP’s growing influence.
He said every political outfit has an opportunity to gain public support if its leaders actively engage with voters and present clear agendas.
“If you want your political party to grow, go to the people and campaign for it. DCP has become popular because we are working hard and interacting with wananchi every day,” he said.
The former deputy president also referenced the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, pointing to the performance of Peter Munya’s Party of National Unity (PNU) as evidence that political parties must remain active on the ground if they hope to remain competitive.
According to Gachagua, the party’s poor showing in the contest reflected a lack of grassroots mobilization rather than unfair competition.
He questioned why some leaders were blaming DCP instead of focusing on strengthening their own political organizations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The exchange follows a joint statement issued on Tuesday by Muturi, Munya and Kivuti, in which they accused Gachagua of undermining other parties while promoting DCP across the Mt Kenya region.
The three leaders argued that healthy political partnerships should be founded on mutual respect, consultation and equality rather than pressure to abandon existing political organizations.
They warned that attempts to create political dominance in the region could undermine unity among leaders who share similar political objectives.
In their statement, the leaders emphasized that each political party has the right to maintain its identity while collaborating with others through structured coalition agreements.
They further cautioned that genuine alliances cannot thrive if one party seeks to overshadow the rest.
The disagreement highlights the growing competition among opposition figures seeking influence in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the next General Election.
With political realignments already underway, several leaders are positioning themselves to shape future coalition negotiations, making the region one of the country’s most closely watched political battlegrounds.
Gachagua has in recent months intensified his tours across Mt Kenya, holding public rallies and meetings aimed at strengthening DCP’s support base. His political activities have attracted both support and criticism, particularly from leaders who believe the region should accommodate multiple parties rather than rally behind a single political vehicle.
