A political gamble to sideline former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has instead made him a more potent force, former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala has taunted, directing his remarks at President William Ruto.

The pointed statement escalates the fallout from Gachagua's dramatic impeachment in October 2024, a move Malala alleges he warned against. This political feud is now reshaping the landscape ahead of the 2027 general election, transforming a once-unified ruling ticket into a bitter rivalry that could splinter President Ruto's Mt. Kenya support base and impact the economic stability of ordinary Kenyans.

A Strategy Derailed

Cracks within the Kenya Kwanza administration began showing shortly after the 2022 election, with President Ruto himself describing a strained partnership marred by disagreements on leadership. Malala claims the friction climaxed in a plot to remove Gachagua, a move he says he personally advised the President against. "I advised the President, as Secretary General, that impeaching Rigathi would sink our ship and destabilise the government. He dismissed me as an enemy," Malala stated in a past interview.

Malala's own ouster from the powerful party position in August 2024 was, in his view, a direct consequence of his opposition to the impeachment plan. He alleges his close working relationship with Gachagua was seen as an obstacle by top party officials orchestrating the deputy's removal.

The impeachment eventually proceeded, with the National Assembly voting to remove Gachagua on October 8, 2024, on grounds that included undermining the president and inciting ethnic hatred. The Senate later upheld five of the eleven charges, confirming his removal from office.

Gachagua's Political Rebirth

Rather than being relegated to the political wilderness, Gachagua has re-emerged as a vocal opposition figure. He has since launched the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), with Cleophas Malala as his deputy party leader, and declared his intention to challenge Ruto for the presidency in 2027. This has turned recent by-elections into high-stakes showdowns between the President's UDA party and Gachagua's new outfit.

Analysts note that Gachagua's ouster has shifted political dynamics in the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region, which was crucial to Ruto's 2022 victory. Gachagua has accused the President of betrayal and orchestrating a plan to destabilize the region. For the average Kenyan, this high-level political instability raises concerns about government focus on critical issues like the cost of living.

• August 2, 2024: Cleophas Malala is removed as UDA Secretary General.
• October 8, 2024: The National Assembly votes to impeach DP Rigathi Gachagua.
• October 17, 2024: The Senate upholds the impeachment.
• May 15, 2025: Gachagua launches his new political party, DCP.
• September 13, 2025: Gachagua announces his 2027 presidential bid.

The Road to 2027

While President Ruto is currently on a diplomatic trip to Washington D.C., the political fires at home are being stoked. Gachagua's camp is framing the impeachment not as a failure, but as the catalyst for a political realignment that could challenge the Kenya Kwanza government's hold on power. Malala's taunts suggest a belief that the strategy to neutralize Gachagua has not only failed but created a more determined and potentially popular opponent.

As one analyst noted, the battle for Mt. Kenya's loyalty could decide the country's next president. The coming months will test whether Gachagua's newfound political momentum is sustainable or if President Ruto can consolidate his base and weather this formidable challenge from his former deputy. The ultimate verdict will lie with the Kenyan voter, who must decide if these political realignments will address their economic anxieties or simply rearrange the seats at the top.