By Anderson Ojwang
Exodus of the people. Mt Kenya is turning green. The wheelbarrow is stuck at the peak of Mt Kenya.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), once the party of the Mountain, and in wheelbarrows the Mt Kenya voters were carried to the polling station and voted for Kenya Kwanza Presidential candidate William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
From wheelbarrow to green, Mt Kenya is fast changing its political terrain, with the impeached Deputy President Gachagua declaring total war on Ruto.
On Wednesday, Gachagua declared: “The mass exodus from UDA, TSP, and other wheelbarrow outfits to DCP is gaining momentum, and by December, they will be mere shells.”
Gachagua received into the party Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha of the county and the entire County Assembly into the DCP Party.
“They have assured me that they will defend their seats on DCP Party tickets, and they shall form part of the aspirants in the party primaries next year. I have assured them that the party primaries will be free and fair,” he said.
The Governor said he was responding to the wishes of the people of Nyandarua and Mt Kenya.
“Today, in solidarity with the wishes of our great people of Nyandarua County, I have visited the former Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua where I’ve declared my unequivocal support to the common cause and aspirations of our people, region and the country. Accordingly, in joining and fully supporting the DCP, I shall seek re-election on the party’s ticket. Among those present were Senator and party Secretary General Hon. John Methu, Kipipiri MP Hon. Wanjiku Muhia, several other MPs, MCAs and hundreds of party supporters from Nyandarua,” he wrote.
From the governor, the next port of call was Kinangop MP Wangui Gikonyo.
Gachagua wrote: “At Wamunyoro Residence I received Hon. Wangui Gikonyo of Kinangop Constituency who paid a courtesy call on me with her delegation. We discussed her views towards the liberation of our country.”
Gikonyo also wrote: “Had the privilege of visiting the peaceful Wamunyoro home of DCP Party Leader, in Nyeri County, alongside his Spouse H.E. Dorcas Rigathi and Nyandarua Senator & DCP Party Secretary-General. We engaged in really productive discussions and consultations on how to strengthen our Party. Our talks further focused on empowering our communities through practical, people-centred development initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and creating sustainable opportunities. Together, we are dedicated to pursuing transformative leadership that prioritises the needs and progress of our people.”
Gachagua said the people of Nyandarua County, led by their Governor, had brought a message of goodwill from the people of Nyandarua.
“They were answering the call for the liberation of Kenya. To them, the future is green. On the liberation of our nation, we are on the same wavelength. With certainty, we shall achieve the best future for our nation.”
Gachagua said the mass exodus from unpopular parties, notably the infamous UDA, continues.
“I am pleased to have received 24 sitting MCAs from Laikipia and Nakuru counties, who paid a visit to me at the Wamunyoro residence.”
The one-basket mentality
Mt Kenya was previously viewed as an open political ground for political parties to hunt. The region had never experienced a single political basket mentality. All political parties shared the cake in the general elections, but the trend is fast changing.
The Ol Kalou by-election became the turning point in Mt Kenya’s politics. Gachagua’s DCP overwhelmingly won the elections by 30,000 votes, gaining 86 percent popularity rating in the region.
Jubilee Party of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, which was expected to checkmate DCP, only managed 198 votes, a negligible figure. That statement was powerful and announced a new dispensation in the region.
Gachagua humiliated and destroyed Deputy Jubilee Party leader and presidential candidate Dr Fred Matiang’i. He shut out Matiang’i from Mt Kenya and subtly read the riot act.
The latest opinion poll by TIFA on Friday showed that DCP was emerging as the party of the moment.
Kangata’s dilemma
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kangata was a man in a dilemma: to either follow his conscience and perish or join the single political basket mentality and survive.
The emergence and vibrancy of the Linda Mwananchi group not only threatened the status quo but began to eat into Gachagua’s expected vote block.
“I have always been forced to be on the political side, not necessarily because I believe in it, but because I want to win an election. This is the only time I am doing politics when I am very happy because in my group, I see all tribes. We are in one group. I am so happy because we are fighting for a cause and not a tribe,” Kangata recently said.
Gachagua told Kangata not to take his Linda Mwananchi group to campaign for the DCP candidate in the Ol Kalou by-election.
“We don’t want confusion in Ol Kalou. The campaign has gone on for three months. Irungu Kangata has never been to Ol Kalou. He doesn’t understand the issues and the narratives. He cannot come and bring Linda Mwananchi to campaign on the last day without knowing what the issues are and how the campaigns are being done,” he said.
He said the campaigns have been going on for two months, led by Senator John Methu and others, and wondered about Linda Mwananchi’s value to the team.
“You have not even talked to John Methu; how do you say you are coming to campaign for a candidate you don’t know and have never seen? You don’t know the area, and you don’t know what is happening,” he said.
On Friday, Kangata was in Wamunyoro to pledge loyalty to the new sheriff in the Mountain.
Gachagua wrote: “Welcome home, Governor Irungu Kang’ata, where you belong. Today at Wamunyoro Residence, I was pleased to receive my younger brother, Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Governor of Murang’a County, as a member of our party, DCP, the party of the moment and the future.”
