Africa-Press – Kenya. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is battling a persistent perception crisis as the shadow of the tribal tag looms over his political career.
The tribal burden is now threatening to spill into the anticipated 2027 presidential contest as Gachagua battles with other bigwigs for the opposition presidential flag.
The latest wave of scrutiny hit after Gachagua addressed a gathering of Kenyans in the United States entirely in his native Kikuyu language.
The move, criticised by some as exclusionary, reinforced the very accusations he is now desperately trying to shake off.
This week, the former Deputy President was at pains to demystify the entrenched perceptions, positioning himself as a misunderstood nationalist unfairly targeted by his critics.
“I am a great nationalist who loves Kenya and has never uttered anything negative against another community,” he asserted during a wide-ranging interview on Citizen TV.
He pointed to his unwavering support for President William Ruto in the past election as definitive proof of his national outlook.
“When I supported Ruto, I knew he was not a Kikuyu but I still supported him. My community gave him 87 per cent of our votes. This tells you that Rigathi Gachagua and his people are not tribal,” he argued, framing the Mt Kenya region’s support as an act of national unity rather than tribal allegiance.
This delicate balancing act — portraying himself as both a national leader and the primary defender of Mt Kenya’s interests — is becoming a defining feature of Gachagua’s political strategy.
Since the period leading up to his impeachment, the DCP leader has been accused of preaching tribal politics, which formed part of the accusations levelled against him in the motion.
The accusations have sustained since then, with Ruto’s allies branding him a tribal chief in various political meetings.
The accusations followed him to the US tour, where observers criticised him for meeting community-based groups.
His recurrent references to Mt Kenya have done little to help him shed off the tag. This has drawn criticism from his allies, chief among them Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba.
In March, the MP said Gachagua needs to realise he has already secured the Mt Kenya vote bloc and does not have to “talk and punch again about the mountain”.
“He needs to be seen to be more accommodating to other communities,” Wamuchomba said.
“The same energy he has been using to fight for the mountain, he needs to use it to advocate for people who are evicted in other areas and the forgotten communities of this country. If he really is a national leader, we need to see him fighting for other Kenyans.”
The branding of Gachagua as a tribal and divisive leader now risks hurting his national outlook as he joins other opposition figures in the 2027 elections.
Already, various leaders from other parts of the country have accused him of being tribal, painting him as unfit for public office.
According to the Constitution, the presidency is a symbol of national unity.
The supreme law also provides that the holder of the big office shall promote and enhance the unity of the nation, as well as respect the diversity of the people and communities of Kenya.
However, Northeastern leaders have consistently accused the former DP of putting a divisive wedge among Kenyans on a tribal and religious basis.
He has also faced the same criticism from allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
George Aladwa (Makadara), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) and Dick Maungu (Luanda) have accused Gachagua of promoting tribalism and risking ethnic unrest.
Some of his remarks have landed him in trouble, with the NCIC summoning him over alleged hate speech and ethnic contempt.
Political analyst Charles Mulila observes that the tribal accusation might have an implication on opposition unity.
“[Wiper leader] Kalonzo Musyoka is also struggling with Gachagua’s baggage of radicalising Mt Kenya and appearing to rally them against other parts of Kenya,” Mulila told the Star.
However, political commentator Gideon Kitheka warned against disregarding Gachagua as just a Mt Kenya kingpin and not a national leader.
“He has been accepted by all Kenyans and commands significant influence. Whoever he endorses for the presidency will undoubtedly send President Ruto home,” Kitheka said.
Gachagua’s efforts to shed off the tribal tag include appointing DCP party officials from across the country.
The party officials were drawn from the Coast, Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza regions.
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