KAKAMEGA, Kenya – Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua appears to have found a fresh political lease after a section of opposition leaders rallied behind him following his impeachment.
For instance, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, Gachagua was in Kakamega County with Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa during the finals of the Malala Cup.
The annual tournament was organised by former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary-general Cleophas Malala, who was ousted from this position in August 2024 following the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decisions.
During the Kakamega event, Gachagua and Wamalwa sat beside each other and appeared in deeper conversations, leaving tongues wagging.
However, the DAP-K party stated that “the meeting marked a step by the party to build alliances across the country.”
What Rigathi Gachagua and Eugene Wamalwa said in Kakamega
While speaking in the same tone, Gachagua, alongside other opposition leaders from the vote-rich Western Kenya region, threatened to lead nationwide demonstrations should the government fail to stop the ongoing abductions of civilians.
Gachagua asked the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration to immediately release the abducted Kenyans, failure to which they will lead the protests in early 2025.
“We would like these young people to spend the New Year with their families. So, Mr. President, you promised to stop these forceful abductions, but these young people have yet to get back to their homes,” Gachagua fired at his former boss, President William Ruto.
Wamalwa, who echoed Gachagua’s sentiments, said that if it gets to January 1, 2025, and the missing people are yet to be found, they will not plead with President Ruto to implement what he recently promised while in Homa Bay.
“Still, it will be about all Kenyans pouring out to the streets to pressure the government to release the abducted civilians,” said Wamalwa.
Malala said that the trend of abducting innocent Kenyans must immediately come to an end.
“In January, let us all come out. It shall not be business as usual if the abductions are still going on,” said the former Kakamega senator.
Why Eugene Wamalwa’s DAP-K wants Rigathi Gachagua in it
In the meantime, the DAP-K leadership declared that Gachagua would be a part of their new alliance, which Wamalwa would lead after he was impeached.
According to deputy party head Wafula Wamunyinyi, plans to incorporate political heavyweights and former Azimio members who have left or threatened to leave the coalition in the wake of Raila Odinga’s recent affiliation with the Kenya Kwanza Government are in the works.
“Even the leader speaking the truth in UDA, you know him, the truth-teller Gachagua. He is also starting a political party and will join our coalition,” said Wamunyinyi.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Jeremiah Kioni (Jubilee), Wamalwa, and former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu have already announced that Gachagua has joined them.
How Kalonzo Musyoka and allies plan to work with Rigathi Gachagua
The leaders who recently spoke in Embu town after attending a burial in Runyenjes said that together with Gachagua, they will form a formidable force to oust the Kenya Kwanza regime in 2027.
Kalonzo said he will lead nationwide protests before March 2025 if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is not yet formed.
“We also want ODM to tell us before the New Year 2025: Are you in the opposition or government?” Kalonzo said.
Ahead of Gachagua’s impeachment, there were divisions among opposition factions regarding his situation.
Kalonzo’s faction of the Azimio la Umoja coalition supported him, while other factions were divided on how to proceed.
There were discussions to involve Gachagua with Wamalwa’s DAP-K faction despite the impeachment issues.
Gachagua was impeached on October 9, 2024, after a historic Senate vote where 282 Members of Parliament supported the motion.
His removal was due to accusations of gross misconduct and irregular wealth acquisition. The impeachment was finalised on October 18, 2024.
The fate of former Gachagua as UDA deputy party leader was sealed in November 2024 after his successor, Kithure Kindiki, assumed the position.
Kindiki officially took over as UDA deputy leader after the party’s NEC met at the party headquarters and resolved to appoint him for the position.
