Kibagendi described Gachagua as “the greatest impediment to the unity of the opposition”, arguing that the former deputy president had focused more on attacking fellow opposition leaders than presenting a clear policy alternative to Kenyans.
“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: Rigathi Gachagua is currently the greatest impediment to the unity of the opposition,” Kibagendi said.
“His conduct has consistently demonstrated that he is more interested in division than collaboration and more comfortable with confrontation than consensus-building.”
The MP's remarks came amid intensified political activity among opposition leaders seeking to position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
Kibagendi accuses Gachagua of lacking policy agenda
Kibagendi questioned what he described as Gachagua's failure to articulate a distinct policy programme during his recent political activities in Kiambu County.
“During his tour of Kiambu County yesterday, Gachagua failed to articulate a single substantive policy issue that he would handle differently if given the opportunity to form the next government,” he said.
Instead, according to Kibagendi, Gachagua and his allies concentrated on attacking other opposition figures.
“He and his surrogates spent considerable time attacking H.E. Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Senator Richard Onyonka and myself,” Kibagendi said.
“That, to me, is a clear indication of a political movement struggling to define itself beyond personalities and hostility towards fellow members of the opposition.”
Kibagendi further accused Gachagua of presenting himself as though he had exclusive ownership of the national conversation around the problems facing Kenyans.
“He has positioned himself as though he has a monopoly on speaking about the challenges facing Kenyans,” the MP said.
“The truth, however, is that much of what he says has been said by many of us for a long time.”
‘Gachagua is not the only voice speaking for Kenyans’
According to Kibagendi, the difference lies mainly in how Gachagua communicates his political message.
“The difference is merely that he chooses louder and often more inflammatory language,” he said.
“There is very little that is fundamentally new in his message.”
The MP also criticised what he termed the “myopia” of Gachagua and some of his political allies, accusing them of behaving as though they could determine who would become Kenya's next president.
“They speak as though they have the authority to determine who will become President or head of government in 2027,” Kibagendi said.
“Their posture suggests that the Kenyan people are merely spectators in a process that belongs to them.”
He argued that the ultimate decision would rest with Kenyan voters.
Kibagendi challenges Gachagua’s political allies
Kibagendi also took aim at some of Gachagua's allies, arguing that political loyalty should not prevent leaders from correcting their colleagues when they are wrong.
He specifically mentioned Hon. Karungo Thangwa and Senator Nyutu.
“Some of his closest allies, particularly people such as Hon. Karungo Thangwa and Senator Nyutu, appear unwilling to tell their leader when he is wrong,” Kibagendi said.
“Instead, they continue cheering him on even when his politics are taking him down a destructive path.”
According to the MP, leaders must retain the courage to challenge those within their own political camps.
“Leadership requires the courage to disagree with your own side when the truth demands it,” he said.
Kibagendi rejects ‘Kasongo mole’ accusations
Kibagendi also dismissed what he described as a common response from Gachagua's camp whenever opposition figures challenge its political narrative.
“Whenever anyone challenges their narrative, their standard response is that the person has been ‘bought by Kasongo’,” he said.
“That is not an argument; it is an excuse to avoid engaging with uncomfortable truths.”
The MP insisted that he would continue speaking openly even when his criticism was directed at political allies.
“Let me therefore be very clear: I do not mince my words, and I will continue to tell Gachagua the truth,” he said.
“I will equally correct my leader, Dr. Matiang’i, whenever I believe he is wrong.”
Kibagendi said his approach to politics had remained consistent throughout his career.
“I have always believed that loyalty to a leader should never require surrendering one's conscience,” he said.
‘No one owns Mt Kenya’
A significant part of Kibagendi's statement focused on what he described as the dangers of ethnic and regional politics.
“Kenyans should also be concerned about the dangerous politics of compartmentalising our country along ethnic and regional lines,” he said.
Kibagendi accused Gachagua of behaving as though Mt Kenya was his exclusive political territory.
“Gachagua appears to suggest that presidential candidates and political parties should restrict themselves to popularising their politics only in the regions from which they originate,” he said.
“He speaks as though he owns Mt. Kenya and no other Kenyan leader should freely engage with its people.”
Kibagendi argued that such an approach was inconsistent with the idea of a united Kenya.
“That is not the Kenya envisioned by our Constitution,” he said.
He added that political leaders should not be reduced to representatives of their ethnic communities.
“There is absolutely no justification for reducing Matiang’i to merely a Gusii leader or Sifuna to merely a Luhya leader,” Kibagendi said.
“They are Kenyan leaders with a national political constituency, just as Gachagua should be a national leader rather than a self-appointed political gatekeeper of Mt. Kenya.”
Kibagendi recalls Ruto’s 2022 Mt Kenya campaign
The MP also sought to challenge the narrative surrounding Gachagua's role in William Ruto's 2022 presidential campaign in the Mt Kenya region.
“Let me remind Riggy G that the votes William Ruto received in the Mt. Kenya region in 2022 were the product of a concerted effort by many individuals and political actors,” Kibagendi said.
He credited several politicians with contributing to the mobilisation that helped Ruto secure support in the region.
“Hon. Alice Wahome, Hon. Moses Kuria, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro, WaMaua and many others played significant roles in that mobilisation,” he said.
“At the time, Gachagua was hardly the central figure he later became.”
Kibagendi went further, explaining that he later recognised Gachagua's ability to communicate with voters and advised Ruto to have him accompany him during visits to Mt Kenya and other areas with significant populations from the region.
“It was at a later stage that some of us, including myself, David Mugonyi and Korir Sing’oei, recognised that Gachagua had developed into a particularly effective communicator,” he said.
“We advised William Ruto that whenever he visited Mt. Kenya or any area with a significant population from the region, Gachagua should accompany him.”
“We understood the political value of his communication style at the time,” Kibagendi added.
Gachagua and Matiang’i political battle
Kibagendi also defended former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i against what he described as efforts to confine him to a regional political identity.
“The reality is that many of the opposition figures aspiring to the presidency have yet to demonstrate a comprehensive national track record,” Kibagendi said.
“Dr. Fred Matiang’i stands out because of his work ethic, his record of performance and the transformations associated with the various ministries he served.”
Kibagendi also pointed to former President Uhuru Kenyatta's support for Matiang’i as a factor in his growing political influence.
“His repeated endorsement by former President Uhuru Kenyatta has also strengthened his standing among many voters in the Mt. Kenya region,” he said.
The MP alleged that Gachagua and his allies had become increasingly concerned about Matiang’i's political traction.
“When Gachagua and his political allies realised that Matiang’i was gaining traction, they resorted to a campaign of smear and intimidation,” he alleged.
He cited what he called the “Wamunyoro consultative forums” as part of those efforts, claiming that attempts were made to influence opinion leaders against Matiang’i.
These claims were made by Kibagendi and were not independently substantiated in his statement.
‘Do Kenyans want a President who can be controlled?’
Kibagendi also addressed claims attributed to Gachagua concerning Matiang’i's personality and whether he could be politically controlled.
“We have also heard Gachagua tell his supporters that he does not believe he would be able to control Matiang’i if he became President, describing him as hard-headed,” Kibagendi said.
He argued that the question raised by such comments was ultimately about the kind of leadership Kenyans wanted.
“Do Kenyans want a President who can be controlled by an individual, or do they want a President who will independently serve the nation, uphold the Constitution and unite all Kenyans?” he asked.
Kibagendi maintained that Kenya's presidency should not be treated as an instrument that can be controlled by political brokers.
“The Presidency of Kenya is not a personal possession to be negotiated between political brokers,” he said.
“It is a constitutional office entrusted to an individual by the Kenyan people.”
Kibagendi warns Gachagua against ‘political gatekeeping’
The MP warned against what he described as attempts by individual politicians to claim ownership of particular ethnic or regional voting blocs.
“No individual, no matter how influential, should imagine that he can determine who leads this country,” Kibagendi said.
He added that no political leader should claim exclusive authority over a region's voters.
“Political parties will inevitably have strongholds, but there is absolutely no justification for reducing Matiang’i to merely a Gusii leader or Sifuna to merely a Luhya leader,” he said.
Kibagendi also criticised Gachagua's alleged opposition to Linda Mwananchi leaders visiting parts of Mt Kenya.
“It is therefore deeply troubling that Gachagua would tell members of Linda Mwananchi not to step into Meru County and become visibly angry whenever Matiang’i visits parts of Mt. Kenya,” he said.
“Whenever we insist on engaging with the people of the region, his response is to label us ‘Kasongo moles’.”
“That is not the politics of inclusion; it is the politics of exclusion,” he added.
Kibagendi says opposition will not be intimidated
Kibagendi then delivered a direct message to Gachagua and his political allies.
“Let me therefore tell Rigathi Gachagua and his reckless political surrogates: we will not be intimidated, bullied or pushed into submission,” he said.
“We will continue to challenge antagonism wherever we see it.”
“He can call us moles; he can call us whatever names he chooses,” Kibagendi added.
“I will continue to speak the truth and tell him, plainly and unequivocally, to stop the nonsense and desist from sending his MPs and bloggers to insult Matiang’i and other leaders.”
Kibagendi raises allegations over possible political targeting
In one of the most serious portions of his statement, Kibagendi raised concerns over what he described as an alleged scheme involving individuals associated with State House.
“There are growing concerns about what appears to be an emerging scheme involving individuals associated with State House,” he said.
Kibagendi alleged that some individuals within the government could be considering exploiting disagreements within the opposition to target some political figures and subsequently blame Gachagua and his allies.
“In their desperation, and apparently recognising the political difficulties facing the current administration, there are allegations that operatives within the regime may be contemplating exploiting the disagreements within the opposition to target some of us physically and subsequently attempt to attribute such acts to Gachagua and his allies,” he alleged.
The MP did not provide evidence in the statement to substantiate the allegation.
He nevertheless warned those he claimed could be contemplating such actions.
“Let me be unequivocal: we are aware of these concerns, and we are watching closely,” Kibagendi said.
“Those who may be contemplating such reckless actions should know that Kenyans are watching too.”
“We will not be intimidated into abandoning our political cause or our commitment to democratic change,” he added.
2027 election and opposition unity
Kibagendi concluded by outlining what he described as his ultimate political objective ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Our ultimate focus remains clear: to unite Kenyans, defeat the rogue and oppressive regime led by William Ruto through the ballot in 2027, and build a government that respects the Constitution, protects citizens and serves every Kenyan regardless of ethnicity, region or political affiliation,” he said.
He insisted that Kenya's political future should not be determined by individual politicians or ethnic blocs.
“Kenya belongs to all of us,” Kibagendi said.
“No individual, no political faction and no ethnic bloc has the right to claim ownership of this country.”
He concluded with the hashtag:
#WantamNiConstant
Do you want to be published? E-mail info@thedailywhistle.co.ke or WhatsApp 0721930260
Comments
No approved comments yet.