NAIROBI — In a blistering assessment of the shifting political sands in Mt Kenya, lawyer and political analyst Wahome Thuku has punctured the aura of invincibility surrounding former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. His verdict is stark: if opposition chiefs Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i were to dump Gachagua today, the self-styled ‘King of the Mountain’ would be left holding an empty crown.

Thuku’s commentary, delivered Monday morning, strikes at the heart of the opposition’s fragile unity talks. It challenges the prevailing wisdom that Gachagua holds the exclusive keys to the vote-rich central region—a bloc that has historically determined the occupant of State House.

The Myth of the Gatekeeper

Writing on his verified social media platforms, Thuku argued that the Mt Kenya electorate has evolved beyond the need for a tribal gatekeeper. He posited a hypothetical scenario where Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i decide to sideline Gachagua completely.

“If Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i decided to sideline Riggy G and even decided never to campaign anywhere in Mt Kenya, the truth is that Mt Kenya would still wake up on the voting day and head to the polling stations and vote for either Kalonzo, Matiang’i or Ruto,” Thuku asserted.

This analysis suggests that Gachagua’s influence, often amplified by his abrasive brand of politics and his leadership of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), may be overstated. Thuku went further, claiming that the two opposition heavyweights “do not even need anyone to mobilise voters for them in Molima” (the Mountain).

A Region in Crisis

The commentary comes against a backdrop of deep disillusionment in Central Kenya. Following Gachagua’s impeachment in late 2024 and the subsequent fracturing of the UDA coalition, the region has been left politically rudderless. Thuku described this as the “worst moment” in the region’s electoral history.

• Voter Fatigue: Residents are reportedly tired of being used as bargaining chips in coalition deals.
• Direct Access: Thuku implies voters are now willing to listen to national leaders directly, bypassing regional kingpins.
• The Ruto Factor: The analyst warned that without a coherent strategy, the region might simply drift back to President William Ruto by default.

“Mt Kenya, we are at our worst moment in the history of elections in this country,” Thuku warned, suggesting that the obsession with regional kingpins is blinding the electorate to the broader national picture.

The Opposition Power Struggle

Thuku’s remarks are likely to inflame tensions within the nascent opposition alliance. Reports have already surfaced of a power struggle between Gachagua and Matiang’i. While Gachagua advocates for mass mobilization and rallies, Matiang’i has been accused of favoring “boardroom politics” to secure the flagbearer ticket.

For the average Kenyan struggling with the cost of living—where the price of unga remains a critical daily metric—these political machinations can feel like a distraction. Yet, the alignment of these figures matters. A fractured opposition virtually guarantees a smooth path to re-election for the incumbent, while a united front could reshape the economic policies that affect every household.

Thuku’s bottom line is a wake-up call to the opposition’s strategists: Gachagua needs Kalonzo and Matiang’i more than they need him. As the 2027 cycle heats up, the assumption that the Mountain speaks with one voice—and that Gachagua is that voice—is being tested like never before.