Rigathi Gachagua’s latest claim that the opposition only works when he is present and active is not just arrogant, it is dangerous to the fragile unity Kenyans are desperate to see. By declaring himself the “opposition king,” Gachagua is doing exactly what William Ruto would want: centering the struggle around ego instead of ideas, personalities instead of purpose.
Kenya’s opposition has never been about one man. It has survived arrests, betrayals, co-optation, and brutal state pressure precisely because it was bigger than individuals. To suggest that the opposition becomes “irrelevant” when Gachagua is silent is to insult millions of Kenyans who have consistently resisted bad governance long before he found his voice outside government.
This kind of politics is not new. It is the same politics of entitlement that has weakened opposition movements in the past, where leaders mistake visibility for leadership and noise for strategy. True opposition work is not measured by how loud one person is on social media or how often they dominate headlines. It is measured by organisation, clarity of message, discipline, and the ability to build trust across regions and communities.
By positioning himself as indispensable, Gachagua is planting seeds of division at a time when unity is most needed. Instead of strengthening the opposition, he is personalising it. Instead of broadening its appeal, he is shrinking it to revolve around his own relevance. That is not leadership; it is vanity politics.
Even more troubling is the timing. As the country grapples with economic pain, rising taxes, and public anger, the opposition should be focused on offering alternatives and holding power to account — not on internal supremacy battles. Kenyans are tired of politicians who confuse personal survival with national struggle.
If Gachagua truly believes in the opposition cause, he should work to strengthen institutions, not himself. The opposition does not need a king. It needs servants of the people, disciplined leadership, and unity of purpose. Anything less only helps those already in power.
