MERU, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has appealed to a section of opposition leaders from the Mt Kenya region to return to the Kenya Kwanza administration, promising political accommodation and senior government positions as signs of growing divisions emerge within the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a meeting with grassroots women leaders in Meru County, Kindiki told leaders who recently aligned themselves with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the government was ready to welcome them back if they chose to rejoin President William Ruto’s administration.
He said those who returned would be considered for key appointments, including Cabinet positions, while others would receive government backing to contest elective seats in the next General Election.
“…wale ndugu zangu Munya, Linturi, Kawira, Muturi nimeona walienda kutafuta hifadhi kwingineko, na nimeona wameanza kufanyiwa madharau. Mimi nawaambia warudi nyumbani tufanye kazi pamoja kwa sababu sisi ni kitu kimoja. Wakuje tupangane kwa hii serikali pamoja. Wengine tuwatafutie bendera wakue mawaziri, wengine vitu kubwa. Si sisi ndio kusema?” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President claimed that several leaders who exited the Kenya Kwanza coalition were no longer receiving the respect they deserved within the opposition, arguing that they had been sidelined despite their political influence.
“Sasa unakaa kwa mtu anakutusi, hakuheshimu, anakudharau… na hii madharau haijaanza leo, imekua kwa muda. Lakini mimi naona siku ya madharau iko karibu kuisha. Sasa tunaenda katika siku ya heshima. Wale walikuwa wanatudharau, wanaenda kutupigia saluti kwa sababu Mungu ameamua,” he added.
Kindiki’s remarks came a day after Gachagua sought to address growing tensions among opposition parties over political strategy and power-sharing arrangements ahead of the 2027 polls.
While hosting delegations from Mathioya and Kangema constituencies at his Wamunyoro residence, Gachagua dismissed claims that he wanted political parties in the Mt Kenya region to dissolve and join the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), insisting that his party welcomed competition from allied political outfits.
However, he maintained that opposition parties should unite behind a single presidential candidate while fielding separate candidates for all other elective positions.
“I want to clarify today DCP and Rigathi Gachagua welcome all political parties. They come, we compete fairly. The only thing hatutaki mashindano ni kiti moja ya rais peke yake… hiyo tukubaliane sote,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President also challenged some of his allies to strengthen their political parties before demanding influence in coalition negotiations. Referring to the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, he questioned the grassroots strength of former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya’s Party of National Unity (PNU), noting that its candidate received only 28 votes.
The remarks have drawn criticism from several opposition leaders.
“Gachagua is a bully. You saw when he talked about the Governor of Murang’a, calling him kiherehere, and the Governor was attacked by goons when he went to Ol Kalou. We think he needs to act more responsibly when dealing with leaders and all human beings. Use your language in a more courteous manner. You’ll go further than you have gone,” Munya said during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive.
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi also faulted Gachagua over remarks perceived as pressuring other parties to dissolve and join DCP, arguing that no individual leader had the authority to dictate the political direction of the Mt Kenya region.
“Why are you saying, in the absence of those other leaders of those other parties, why are you telling them to dissolve and join DCP? And you just formed your party the other day. You found these other parties in existence. What has prompted you to think that they should dissolve and join this new outfit?” Muturi posed.
Democratic Empowerment Party (DEP) leader Lenny Kivuti defended coalition partners for expressing their concerns publicly, saying healthy debate should not be viewed as disunity.
“We are part of the united opposition. Would you rather have us talk about anything—the reorganising, the self-respect, about how things should be? You’d like us to keep quiet until we sit in a boardroom?” Kivuti said.
The exchange highlights growing tensions within the opposition coalition as political parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, even as leaders continue to insist they remain committed to presenting a united front against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
