Governor races in Mt Kenya East opens new fault lines in Gachagua's mountain unity bid
Tensions are rising in Kenya's Mt Kenya region as political leaders clash over party autonomy and governor seat nominations. Rigathi Gachagua faces criticism from opposition party leaders who accuse him of attempting to consolidate power by pressuring smaller parties to dissolve into his own.
Why it matters
The conflict highlights the fragility of political alliances in Kenya and the ongoing struggle for regional dominance ahead of future election cycles.
DEP leader Lenny Kivuti, PNU leader Peter Munya and DP leader Justin Muturi during a press conference on August 4, 2026
A simmering fallout between DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and three Mt Kenya party leaders has exposed fresh cracks within the united opposition.
T he competition for governor seats has emerged as the main trigger of the latest flare-up.
The row burst into the open on Tuesday after DP leader Justin Muturi, PNU leader Peter Munya and Devolution Empowerment (Mbus) Party leader Lenny Kivuti accused Gachagua of attempting to politically suffocate smaller parties by pressuring them to dissolve and join DCP.
The trio, whose parties are part of the opposition alliance, insisted they would retain their political identities, arguing that coalition politics should be founded on mutual respect rather than domination by one party.
They regard Mt Kenya East as their political stronghold.
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