A coalition of opposition parties from the Mt Kenya region has publicly refuted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s assertion that he speaks for the entire region. In a joint statement released on August 4, 2026, leaders from the Democratic Party (DP), PNU, Umoja na Maendeleo Party, and BUS Party rejected attempts by Gachagua to position himself as the Mt Kenya political voice.
The statement emphasized that no meeting or consensus has authorized Gachagua to represent all Mt Kenya parties or communities. The coalition also dismissed his call for these parties to dissolve and merge into the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), a proposal he made during a church event in Meru on July 26, 2026.
Opposition Parties Stress Voluntary Unity
The parties underscored that leadership must be earned through service, humility, and consensus rather than unilateral declarations. They reminded that former Mt Kenya leaders, including Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta, never sought to force other political formations to dissolve or claimed exclusive regional leadership.
They further noted that each political party is an independent entity protected by the Constitution and the Political Parties Act, and any decisions about their future must be made through lawful internal processes.
Commitment to Collaborative Leadership
While rejecting coercion, the coalition affirmed their commitment to collaborate in offering an alternative to President William Ruto’s administration. They stressed that any cooperation must be founded on mutual respect, consultation, and voluntary agreement rather than political pressure or ultimatums.
- Gachagua’s claim to regional leadership disputed by DP, PNU, Umoja na Maendeleo, and BUS Party
- No authorization or consensus exists to speak for all Mt Kenya parties
- Opposition parties reject calls to dissolve and merge into DCP
- Leadership must be earned through service and consensus
- Commitment to voluntary cooperation against current government
