Category: Politics

Speaking to KTN on Wednesday, Gachagua said Sifuna acted in the interests of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which then belonged to the opposition. Gachagua added that he would have made the same choice in Sifuna’s position.

The two men stood in opposing political camps during the impeachment. They now serve as co-principals in the United Opposition, which aims to unite behind one presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.

Gachagua said he raised Sifuna’s role in the impeachment when the senator visited his Wamunyoro home on October 20. He asked Sifuna how he reconciled his earlier decision with their current political partnership.

“The good young man explained to me, and I agreed with his reasoning. They were in ODM, our opponents with William Ruto. So when William Ruto reached out to ODM to give them a rope long enough to hang himself [politically], they just gave it to him,” he claimed.

Gachagua said ODM leaders saw a chance to ‘weaken’ Ruto politically by backing the removal of his deputy, who had helped mobilize Mount Kenya voters behind Ruto’s 2022 presidential campaign.

“He told me, ‘Riggy G, if you were in our shoes, you would have done the same. This guy was our opponent. He defeated us because he had the Mountain. By removing you, you lose the whole mountain, and he has lost it, by the way,’” Gachagua said.

Gachagua said Sifuna’s vote did not amount to betrayal because they had not been political allies at the time.

The former deputy president said Sifuna’s vote did not amount to betrayal because the two were not political allies at the time.

“Number two, in my community, a betrayal by an outsider is not betrayal. Sifuna and I were not in the same camp; he did not vote for me, so how does he betray me?” he posed.

“The betrayal is with the Kenya Kwanza team. These are people we were together with; we had an agreement on how to work, and we campaigned for them.”

Gachagua said his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) would welcome former Kenya Kwanza allies who had fallen out with the ruling coalition and wanted to follow the electorate’s mood.

“Anybody who betrayed the community, you have reconciled with your soul; you have listened to the ground. The people are saying, ‘Go where the people are,’ and you want to come to DCP. There’s no vetting, there’s nothing,” he said.

He said defectors would only need to pay the party membership fee and formally announce their move.

“So, in matters of impeachment, we don’t have an issue with them (ODM),” he said.

Gachagua said the impeachment would remain a political liability for Ruto and his allies, especially in Mount Kenya. He said the president would have to explain why his former deputy had left office.

“He has to tell the people of the mountain, ‘We gave you our son to be your deputy for five years; you have come back without him. Where is he?’ He will be asked.”

“William Ruto has many questions to answer to the mountain. The Western and Nyanza people have no questions to answer because we were not in the same camp anyway. Even if they impeached us, it’s a simple matter given what is at stake,” he added.

Gachagua said the opposition must set aside personal grievances and differences to defeat the incumbent in 2027, even if that means working with people who backed his removal.

“That is why I must embrace everybody, including those who removed me from office, because I need everybody. We need each other, and we have a job to do. Even that impeachment, I have no issue with it; it’s a blessing in disguise. I’m happier than I was.”

Gachagua said the impeachment had put him in a strategic position to help shape the opposition’s political realignment as it seeks to form the next government.

Owino said the offer came as Ruto faced mounting pressure over the anti-government demonstrations, which led the president to dissolve his cabinet in July 2024.

“Babu was approached during the Gen Z protests; Babu was supposed to be given the minister for Education. I was offered that position by President Ruto himself, and I didn’t take it then. What about now?” he said in an interview on Thee Alfa House YouTube channel.

Owino said his opposition to the broad-based government shaped his decision. He maintained that he rejected the arrangement even when the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga supported it.

“I did so because of my ideologies, what I believe in. And I’ve never believed in the broad-based government, even when Baba (Raila Odinga) was alive,” he said.

“When Baba joined the broad-based government, it is only Babu Owino in ODM that did not join the broad-based government.”

Owino also addressed concerns about leaders linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement having their own parties. The MP argued that leading a political party does not necessarily make someone more open to political persuasion. He said a leader’s principles ultimately determine their loyalties.

Owino defended his decision to establish his own party, saying it would encourage young people to seek elective office at county and national levels, including seats in county assemblies, Parliament, and the Senate, as well as governorships.

He cited past election coalitions, including the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), Jubilee, the National Super Alliance (NASA), and Azimio la Umoja, to argue that parties can unite to contest the presidency.

“There are over 100 parties in this country; it cannot just be news that Babu has a party,” he said.

Owino also pointed to the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. He argued that party structures can give politicians a platform to build support and defend themselves.

Owino, who leads The Mwananchi Party (TMP), said ideology, not the prospect of securing government positions, would guide his political decisions.

Jalang’o said he did not expect to return to broadcasting. He said God guided his political journey and expressed confidence in his Senate bid.

The MP spoke as he drove to Jacaranda Grounds to inspect the venue for an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) rally scheduled for the weekend. He questioned why some people wanted him to fail and return to the media industry.

Some people have advised Jalang’o to keep veteran radio presenter Alex Mwakideu’s number in case he needs help finding another media job after a failed political bid.

“Number one, I have never lost Alex’s number,” he said, laughing off the suggestion that he would need Mwakideu’s help to return to broadcasting.

“And those people saying I will return to radio – what did I do wrong? I have never wronged anyone.”

Jalang’o built his public profile through comedy, acting, and radio before venturing into politics. He said divine intervention had brought him this far and that he would accept whatever path God chose for him.

“I am where I am because of God. If the Almighty wants me to go back to radio, so be it,” he said.

He acknowledged that broadcasting can pay well for talented presenters but said he did not see himself returning to the profession.

“Radio is one of the most paying jobs. Once you build your talent, radio will pay you very well. But I do not see myself going back to radio,” he said.

“God has blessed my bid.”

Jalang’o confirmed he will not defend his Lang’ata parliamentary seat in 2027 and will instead contest the Nairobi Senate position, which Edwin Sifuna currently holds. His decision has opened the Lang’ata race, with several aspirants seeking to succeed him.

Dr Davji Atellah, secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has announced his bid for the Lang’ata seat on an ODM ticket. Abass Khalif, a South C ward representative in the Nairobi County Assembly, has also said he will seek the seat on the party ticket.

Other political figures are also eyeing the Nairobi Senate seat as Sifuna pursues higher office. Winnie Odinga, the East African Legislative Assembly MP and daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, announced her bid on October 15, 2026, during the first anniversary commemoration of her father in Bondo, Siaya County.

Nominated Senator Crystal Asige announced her intention to contest the seat on October 18, 2026.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 28, Gachagua said Raila Junior had a strong chance of winning a seat in Nairobi, but not if he ran on a ticket associated with Ruto.

“I have seen the son of late Raila Odinga, Raila Junior, wants to contest in Nairobi, and he stands a good chance.

“But I can tell you as sure as December 25 is Christmas, if he comes under William Ruto, he will not get that seat,” said Gachagua.

The former deputy president said Winnie could also win if she ran under DCP, Linda Mwananchi, or Wiper.

“Winnie stands a chance if she comes under DCP, Linda Mwananchi or Wiper. If she comes under Ruto and Oburu, she will go nowhere,” Gachagua stated.

Gachagua also claimed that an alliance between himself, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino would sweep Nairobi’s seats in 2027.

“A combination of Kalonzo, Babu Owino and Gachagua, Nairobi City is gone. Out of the 2.7 million votes, comfortably we will get 2.5 million and all 17 seats. Nairobi City is one term,” he said.

Winnie Odinga has since announced that she will contest the Nairobi Senate seat in next year’s election. The EALA MP said political developments involving incumbent Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna had influenced her decision.

Raila Junior has also announced plans to run for the Kibra parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election.

In a statement on Thursday, October 29, the movement’s head of communications, Pauline Njoroge, said the post did not represent its position.

“Please note that this is not our page, and its content does not represent the positions of the Linda Mwananchi Movement,” she wrote.

Njoroge said the movement’s official Facebook page is called Linda Mwananchi and has about 106,000 followers. She urged supporters to distinguish it from the account that published the boycott message.

“Our official page is Linda Mwananchi (the one with 106k followers). The fake page has the word LINDA in capital letters. We are working on verification,” she added.

The post, which presented itself as an announcement to Linda Mwananchi supporters, called for a boycott of Radio 47 and accused the station of biased coverage. It alleged that the station’s presenters, producers, and guests were unprofessional and disrespectful towards the opposition. It also claimed the station’s coverage undermined Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition leaders.

The clarification comes a week after Njoroge defended Sifuna following his meeting with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. In a statement on Wednesday, October 21, she criticized bloggers who had condemned the senator for meeting Gachagua, questioning their criticism of Sifuna while they continued to support President William Ruto.

Njoroge cited the 2024 Finance Bill protests as a turning point in Kenyan politics, arguing that Ruto’s and Gachagua’s positions during that period should inform how Kenyans assess their political records.

“I keep saying that the bell rang in 2024. That is where we drew the line. Wasn’t it Ruto who pushed the Finance Bill, while Gachagua opposed it? Who defended the brutality unleashed on our young people, and who spoke out against it?” she asked.

She also questioned whether Gachagua’s past remarks about the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga could be compared with those made by Ruto and accused critics of applying different standards to political figures.

“Spare us the selective outrage. You cannot support Ruto, who continues to defy our Constitution, the very thing Baba stood for; you cannot continue to support Ruto, whose administration has overseen the killing, maiming, and abduction of Kenyans, while acting as though meeting Gachagua is an unforgivable offense,” she said.