Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has warned a section of United Opposition leaders against addressing him as though he were their child, calling for mutual respect among politicians seeking to work together ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Gachagua insisted that he deserves respect from his fellow opposition leaders, arguing that he has played a significant role in propelling several politicians to power, including President William Ruto.
“Na mimi mtu asiniongeleshe kama mtoto yake. I delivered the presidency of William Ruto; we will deliver this, but people should have some respect,” Gachagua stated.
With fury, the former Deputy President took aim at an opposition leader who recently criticised him for allegedly being arrogant and warned that his conduct could become a stumbling block to opposition unity.
Gachagua, however, defended his political mobilisation record, describing himself as an experienced mobiliser who would only work with like-minded leaders committed to grassroots mobilisation.
He challenged some of the opposition leaders to account for their political activities since he left government, arguing that his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) had continued expanding its grassroots presence despite his absence.
According to Gachagua, DCP foot soldiers had continued holding political meetings across the Mt Kenya region and other parts of the country, with the party having conducted 27 meetings as part of its mobilisation activities.
He maintained that the party remained vibrant and committed to removing President William Ruto from power, questioning whether some of his critics had demonstrated a similar level of commitment.
The former Deputy President further warned that he would not spend his time mobilising votes only to hand them over to a presidential candidate who was unwilling to put in the work.
He insisted that he would only support a presidential candidate who was hard-working, committed to grassroots mobilisation and ready to traverse the country in search of votes.
Gachagua argued that he could not be expected to mobilise supporters while a presidential candidate remained at home with his wife instead of actively campaigning for votes.
He also turned his attention to former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who recently criticised him over alleged arrogance and questioned his commitment to opposition unity.
Questioning Muturi’s political influence, Gachagua cited the recent Mbeere North by-election, claiming that Muturi’s Democratic Party candidate managed to secure only 35 votes while President William Ruto’s candidate garnered more than 200 votes.
He questioned how Muturi could lecture him about political mobilisation when his own party had struggled to attract votes in its political backyard.
Gachagua, however, contrasted the Mbeere North outcome with the Ol Kalou by-election, where he claimed his party’s candidate outperformed the government-backed candidate.
The latest remarks come days after former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i accused Gachagua of arrogance, warning that his approach to opposition politics could undermine efforts to unite leaders ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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