Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The battle for the vote rich Meru region has intensified as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua rallied residents to join his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
Mr Gachagua is on a three-day tour of Meru County as he seeks to popularise the party and the opposition’s anti-government campaign.
On Friday, Mr Gachagua and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi unveiled several politicians interested in earning their party's ticket in the next General Election.
However, Mr Gachagua’s entry to Meru was not smooth as he met pockets of resistance at Nkubu and Meru towns where rival groups clashed.
In Meru town, a group of youths barricaded the Meru-Embu road with stones and bonfires but they were repulsed by Mr Gachagua’s supporters.
Mr Gachagua accused local politicians allied to President William Ruto of mobilising goons against him.
"We are aware that the Members of Parliament from this area have been mobilised to stop my meetings. In Nkubu, some youths were incited to throw stones and in Meru town they tried to burn tyres. However, we shall not be stopped," Mr Gachagua said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The opposition leaders reiterated their call on region's voters to reject any overtures from the ruling party ahead of the next election.
"The MPs say they are standing with Ruto so as to draw development but they have nothing to show so far. I want to share the responsibility with the voters. I will work with other leaders to beat Ruto in 2027 but the people must work towards sending the ruling party's MPs home. They have betrayed us by standing with the president," he added.
Mr Gachagua maintained that extensive vetting will be done on all candidates interested in presidential and parliamentary seats to ensure those elected represent the interests of the people.
"This time round, I won't make a mistake. If I sat with Uhuru Kenyatta, we couldn't have been in this mess. I will be very careful to personally vet those to work with in 2027," he said.
The launch of DCP has caused political divisions in the Mt Kenya East as leaders align themselves ahead of the general elections.
The fallout between President Ruto and Mr Gachagua has led to a split in the ‘Bus’ Party top leadership went different ways.
While Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) national chairman Lenny Kivuti and his allies have aligned themselves with Mr Gachagua, the de facto party leader Kiraitu Murungi and his team have vowed to stand with President Ruto despite the raging political storm in the Mt Kenya region.
DEP Deputy Party Leader Titus Ntuchiu and Secretary General Mugambi Imanyara have since joined the opposition.
The conflicting positions taken by the two prominent Mt Kenya East politicians has left party members in a catch 22 position.
Early this week, Mr Kivuti led delegates in making a resolution to join the opposition to ensure that President Ruto serves only one term.
This comes about two weeks after DEP Meru County delegates declared their resolve to work with the broad based government until further notice.
While Mr Kivuti attended the meeting that was led by Mr Murungi in Meru town, the former kept off the press briefing where the delegates announced their decision.
The DEP Deputy Party leader Titus Ntuchiu has also joined the Gachagua camp declaring that he was charting his own political path away from the Bus party.
The split among DEP membership comes more than a month after the national leadership led by Mr Murungi distanced themselves from the Kenya Kwanza administration citing it for disregarding their past support.
Mr Kivuti has vowed to stand by the resolution made by the party’s top organ while Mr Murungi says the decision was vetoed by Meru County delegates.
One term government
On Monday, Bus party delegates said President Ruto's government had become too unpopular to be associated with it.
“We have resolved that the DEP joins the popular cousins’ movement. However, the DEP will not merge with any other party. We don't want to make a mistake, we want to go where Kenyans are by working with other opposition leaders so that we can free the country from the chains of oppression," said Mr Kivuti.
“We have agreed that this will be a one term government," he added.
The delegates called out the government over the extra-judicial killings, high cost of living and failing to deliver on its mandate.
"Kenyans, especially those in Embu, have suffered under this regime and we shall team with the opposition to vote this government out," said Mr Kivuti.
Mr Kivuti disclosed that Mr Murungi, who was absent, would relinquish the DEP leadership because he holds the National Oil Corporation chairmanship.
“I have a lot of respect for Kiraitu because we formed the Bus Party with him but he has been given a job by the President. He has told me that he doesn't want to be actively involved in the DEP affairs because he is a little bit old. He wants us to lead the DEP the way its members want," he said.
The delegates promised to back Mr Kivuti to replace Mr Murungi during the forthcoming DEP National Executive Conference.
However, Bus delegates from Meru County said they would not be swayed by the opposition political currents sweeping across the region.
Mr Murungi said despite their earlier position, party delegates had resolved to remain in government.
“We will not join the opposition just because some leaders have done so. We met the president as Meru leaders and he has promised several projects. Therefore, we are not in a rush to leave the government. It will be akin to dropping the pot when the food is cooking,” Mr Murungi said.
In a statement read by branch secretary Alhaji Mwendia, the party delegates said the DEP was still working closely with president Ruto with a view of securing development for the people of Meru.
“We are in partnership with the national government to ensure constructive engagement on issues affecting our people. As a party, we will support President Ruto’s administration and pursue the realization of the promises he made to us. Our focus is on political sobriety and dignity,” Mr Mwendia said.
He however said the party delegates would convene early next year to review their position about supporting the government.
Party insiders told the Daily Nation that it was not strategic for Mr Murungi’s party to join the opposition after a similar move by Mr Munya and Mr Linturi.
By joining the opposition, insiders are afraid that the move would pave the way for President Ruto to work with former governor Kawira Mwangaza, who still enjoys a significant following in the grassroots.
DEP politicians were on the forefront in pushing for the ouster of Ms Mwangaza, who floored Mr Murungi in the 2022 elections.
The DEP leadership in Meru has also urged Governor Isaac Mutuma to work closely with the president despite increasing political noise in the region.
Mr Kivuti’s move to stand with the opposition comes ahead of the Mbeere North Parliamentary by-election, whose seat fell vacant when Mr Geoffrey Ruku was appointed the Public Service Cabinet Secretary by President William Ruto following the sacking of Mr Justin Muturi.
During the conference, DEP delegates resolved to back and campaign for Muminji MCA Newton Kariuki who has declared interest in the Mbeere North Parliamentary seat. Mr Kariuki will be running on Democratic Party (DP) ticket.
Additional reporting by George Munene
