Tensions are rising within the opposition after concerns emerged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is increasingly acting as a political gatekeeper for Mt Kenya.
According to several insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of Gachagua’s sharp rebuttals, the former DP has allegedly been demanding that any opposition leader seeking to tour Mt Kenya counties must consult and be accompanied by him.
“When you try to make inroads without his blessing, he organizes hecklers to frustrate your meetings,” said a senior opposition strategist. “It happened to Matiang’i in Laikipia, and just yesterday Kalonzo Musyoka was heckled while popularizing Wiper in Tharaka Nithi.”
The leaders claim Gachagua has turned the visits into a commercial enterprise, allegedly demanding between Kshs 10 million and 20 million for what he calls fuel, logistics, and mobilization. “If you don’t pay, you are assured of resistance,” said another opposition insider.
The complaints highlight growing friction as leaders attempt to strengthen their networks ahead of the 2027 elections. While opposition parties mobilize freely and at no charge when Gachagua visits their regions, they say he has now created financial hurdles for them in Mt Kenya.
“He wants to position himself as the sole political landlord of the region,” noted one legislator allied to the opposition. “But this kind of gatekeeping is toxic and only breeds resentment.”
Sources indicate that discussions are ongoing among opposition leaders on whether to publicly call out Gachagua’s tactics, which they see as both exploitative and undemocratic.
For now, the grumbling remains behind the scenes, but with the stakes high in the run-up to 2027, the battle for Mt Kenya is threatening to become as much about who controls access as it is about winning hearts and votes.
