When Rigathi Gachagua, former Deputy President of Kenya, walked onto the KTN set on October 5, 2025, he didn’t mince words: the rumor that he was secretly bargaining with President William Ruto was "nothing but a fabrication" and their relationship was "irreparably broken." The denial came a day after Gachagua’s newly minted Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) was announced, a move that could reshape the country’s political map ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Background: Ruto‑Odinga Power‑Sharing and Gachagua’s Exit

The political turbulence traces back to March 7, 2025, when President Ruto signed a power‑sharing agreementNairobi with opposition leader Raila Odinga. The deal, brokered after deadly anti‑government protests over the 2024 Finance Bill, was meant to calm the streets but instead splintered the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Gachagua, who was impeached and removed from office in 2024, fell out with Ruto over the pact. He accused the President of sidelining the youth and betraying the promises of the 2022 electoral coalition. "I chose the road that keeps my conscience clear," Gachagua told KTN, hinting that his next step would be to build a new political home.

Gachagua’s New Party and the DCP Strategy

On October 4, 2025, the DCP was officially registered in Nairobi. Its manifesto reads like a checklist for power: "Forming government or getting into government," Gachagua explained, adding that the party would draw its strength from the Mt. Kenya corridor, where his supporters still rally.

"From what the people of Mt. Kenya have told me, William Ruto is not part of that equation," he said, making it clear that any collaboration with the President was off the table.

Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, another key figure, dismissed accusations that DCP was a Ruto front, calling the claims a "government‑sponsored mole" tactic designed to fracture the United Opposition.

Allegations of a Secret Deal and the Narok Meeting

The spark for the controversy was a statement by Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni. He alleged that Gachagua met privately in Narok County with 15 local leaders, including clergy, to block a DCP ticket for aspiring ward councillor Joshua Ole Kaputa. Kioni claimed the closed‑door session was a quid‑pro quo with Ruto, promising Kaputa a future nomination.

Malala shot back, branding Kioni “a mole” and urging the opposition to ignore the "wantam" slogan—a local phrase for political intrigue. "If you’re in the opposition and can’t say the wantam slogan, then you’re a mole," Malala warned.

Mohammed Ali’s Possible Defection and the Mt. Kenya Battle

Meanwhile, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali posted a cryptic photo on social media on October 5, 2025, showing himself sharing tea with former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Gachagua. "Some things are better left unannounced because they are meant to be discovered," he wrote, fueling speculation that the MP might abandon the UDA and join the opposition bloc.

Ali, who elected on a UDA ticket in 2022, has been a vocal critic of the President’s handling of the Generation Z protests sparked by high taxes in the 2024 Finance Bill. He has also hinted at a run for the Mombasa governorship in 2027, a race that already pits him against UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar.

Heated words followed from Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, who warned that Ali’s flirtation with Gachagua could end his political career. "He’s an opportunist," Sudi said, questioning whether Gachagua can actually mentor anyone after his own impeachment.

Reactions Across the Political Spectrum

Ruto’s camp tried to downplay the drama, emphasizing the continuity of the March 2025 power‑sharing agreement. Yet, the Raila Odinga Secretariat rebuffed rumors that the ODM leader was ill, accusing a "coordinated smear campaign" led by Gachagua, Musyoka, and DAP’s Eugene Wamalwa.

Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party (DAP) issued a statement denying any involvement in health misinformation. "These are desperate attempts to drag Raila Odinga into a political fight he has no part in," the press release read.

The Wiper Party, led by Musyoka, also rejected ODM’s claims, calling them "baseless" and insisting that any discussions about Odinga’s health were purely speculative.

Implications for the 2027 General Election

All signs point to a high‑stakes showdown for Mt. Kenya’s loyalty. If Gachagua’s DCP can seal an alliance with Musyoka’s Wiper Party and perhaps pull in other regional leaders, the youth‑driven protest movement that rocked Nairobi in 2024 could become a decisive voting bloc.

On the other side, Ruto’s new deputy — Kithure Kindiki — is expected to shore up the President’s base in the Rift Valley, while Odinga aims to retain his ODM strongholds in the western region.

• October 5, 2025: Gachagua publicly denies secret talks with Ruto.
• March 7, 2025: Ruto‑Odinga power‑sharing pact signed.
• October 4, 2025: DCP officially registered.
• October 6, 2025: Jeremiah Kioni alleges Narok meeting.
• 2027: General Election looming, with contested governorships in Mombasa and Kisumu.

Analysts say the battle for the youth vote will be the decisive factor. "If the opposition can present a unified front that speaks to the frustrations of Generation Z, Ruto’s coalition could be in trouble," noted political scientist Dr. Achieng Otieno of the University of Nairobi.

For now, Kenya watches a political chessboard where former allies become rivals, and new parties sprout like shoots after a rainstorm. The next few months will likely see more defections, secret meetings, and public spats as each side tries to lock in the crucial Mt. Kenya electorate before the 2027 deadline.