When Kiambaa MP Njuguna Kawanjiku revealed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua used to threaten him after his 2021 by-election win, many Kenyans were shocked — but those who have watched Gachagua’s brand of politics were not. Kawanjiku claims he had to part with ten goats and Ksh 5 million just to escape Gachagua’s wrath. If a young MP could be shaken down like that, imagine what senior leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka are enduring.
Word in political circles is that Gachagua’s support for Kalonzo’s 2027 presidential bid isn’t out of conviction but convenience — and profit. Reports suggest he’s demanding 50% of Kalonzo’s government if they win, and a weekly “appreciation” of one million shillings just to keep saying “Kalonzo Tosha.”
That’s not politics; that’s extortion. It’s a worrying picture of a man turning influence into income, reducing alliances into transactions, and loyalty into blackmail. If this is how Gachagua treats allies before power, what would DCP MPs face if he actually controls a sizable bloc in 2027?
Kenya cannot afford leaders who see politics as a business of fear and profit. Leadership must return to integrity and service, not threats and greed. As the 2027 race shapes up, may God remember his people — and choose dignity over intimidation. Kenya deserves better.
