The marriage of convenience is officially over. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Rift Valley and Mount Kenya, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has openly aligned himself with the opposition, setting the stage for a bruising battle for the soul of the nation in 2027.

Speaking at a charged rally in Nyeri, Gachagua did not mince his words. He accused the administration—of which he is technically still the second-in-command—of "betraying the mountain" and failing to deliver on the bottom-up economic promise. This is no longer a rift; it is a canyon.

The New Alliance

Gachagua is not walking alone. He has reportedly stitched together a formidable coalition of the aggrieved.

• The Opposition Axis: The DP has been spotted holding strategic meetings with Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, and Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua. It is an "Alliance of the Willing" designed to encircle the President.
• The Strategy: By positioning himself as the defender of Mt. Kenya interests against a "hostile" administration, Gachagua aims to consolidate his backyard before launching a national assault.

A Constitutional Crisis?

President William Ruto, seemingly unfazed, has welcomed the challenge. "I know there will be an examination in 2027," Ruto told a crowd in Nyeri, mere hours after Gachagua’s event. "We will face those who thrive on drama."

The country now faces the bizarre prospect of a Deputy President campaigning against his boss for the next 18 months. It is a test of the 2010 Constitution, which makes it nearly impossible to fire a deputy. For the average Kenyan, however, it means the political noise will only get louder, likely drowning out the urgent conversations about the cost of living and service delivery.