What if UDA didn’t lose much sleep over DCP’s victory because they knew the biggest beneficiary wouldn’t be the Opposition—but Rigathi Gachagua’s ego?
It may sound like an unusual political theory, especially considering the resources UDA reportedly poured into the contest. But politics has a habit of producing outcomes that don’t always make sense at first glance.
One thing is certain: every political victory gives leaders confidence. But when confidence slowly transforms into “I alone can deliver,” that’s where problems begin.
Gachagua has become one of the Opposition’s biggest crowd-pullers, particularly in the Mt. Kenya region. Naturally, every successful outing strengthens his bargaining power within the coalition. The danger is when that bargaining power starts looking like ownership.
Imagine every coalition meeting ending with, “Who brought Mt. Kenya?” and one hand immediately shooting into the air.
The Opposition is made up of heavyweight politicians—Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi, Edwin Sifuna and others. Each commands influence, each has loyal supporters and each expects to be treated as an equal partner.
Coalitions are built on consultation, compromise and shared credit. They rarely survive when one leader starts behaving like the chairman, secretary and sole shareholder all at once.
If every victory convinces Gachagua that he is the indispensable pillar holding the coalition together, he could unintentionally become its greatest headache.
Politics is full of examples where parties lost elections not because they lacked numbers, but because they couldn’t manage competing egos.
The Opposition’s biggest assignment may therefore not be defeating President William Ruto. It may first have to prove that it can accommodate strong personalities without allowing one to overshadow everyone else.
After all, voters don’t just watch how politicians fight their opponents. They also watch how they treat their allies.
And in politics, sometimes the loudest cheerleader can also become the biggest distraction.
