In politics, loyalty is currency. But inside the camp of impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, that currency appears to be rapidly losing value.
Fresh turmoil erupted yesterday after Njeri Maina publicly questioned why Kirinyaga MCAs she claims were mobilising against her political camp were later seen meeting Gachagua — a move that has ignited whispers of betrayal among his most vocal defenders.
LOYALISTS FEEL ABANDONED
The optics were jarring. Some of the same ward representatives aligned to Anne Waiguru and William Ruto, who were perceived to have cheered Gachagua’s political troubles during his impeachment battles, were suddenly welcomed into his orbit.
For die-hard allies who stood publicly with him, the message was unsettling: yesterday’s critics can become today’s allies — while yesterday’s defenders risk being sidelined.
Political insiders say the fallout reveals a deeper pattern in Gachagua’s political style: transactional alliances driven more by immediate power arithmetic than long-term loyalty.
A FAMILIAR PATTERN
Veterans of Mt Kenya politics note that Gachagua has previously turned sharply on former allies. His dramatic fallout with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, once his political patron, remains one of the most striking examples.
After years of working within Kenyatta’s political orbit, the relationship collapsed publicly during the 2022 campaign season, unleashing a barrage of criticism that stunned many within the region’s political establishment.
A WARNING FOR NEW ALLIES
For rising politicians hoping Gachagua will nurture the next generation of leadership, analysts say the lesson is stark: his politics often centres on personal survival and influence rather than building enduring political structures.
As figures like John Methu and other young leaders rally behind him, critics caution they may be investing in a political vehicle that prizes loyalty only until the next tactical turn.
In Kenya’s shifting political landscape, alliances built on convenience rarely last. And for some of Gachagua’s allies, that realisation may already be dawning.
