The political feud between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri has intensified, with each seeking to undermine the other.
Their recent disputes center around unclear issues that appear to be deeply personal.
Political analysts recall that Kiunjuri was once allied with Gachagua’s late elder brother, Nderitu Gachagua, the first governor of Nyeri and a co-founder of the Grand National Union (GNU) with Gachagua.
While Gachagua is a key leader in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Kiunjuri leads The Service Party (TSP). Notably, Gachagua is not part of the ruling coalition Kwanza, which Kiunjuri is involved with.
According to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology lecturer Charles Mwangi, the ongoing conflict may stem from past personal issues or competition for political dominance in Mt. Kenya, with both figures potential future leaders for the region.
In recent exchanges, Kiunjuri has accused Gachagua of inciting Gen Z protests and allegedly funding 25,000 protesters to create unrest.
also alleged that Gachagua has insulted the President and attempted to undermine his leadership, even using tribalism to weaken the President’s support in Mt. Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kiunjuri claims that Gachagua’s actions pressured the President into including opposition leader Raila Odinga’s allies in the new cabinet, blaming Gachagua for pushing this decision and creating political instability.
He has criticized Gachagua for trying to dominate Mt. Kenya’s political landscape, referring to him as an inferior activist and accusing him of forcing leaders into submission.
Gachagua, in response, dismissed Kiunjuri’s comments as the “barbaric” actions of those using protests to exact personal revenge.
The Deputy President has labeled his critics as traitors and enemies of the region, further escalating the political tension.
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