Mt Kenya never had a king, party leaders tell Gachagua over his calls to dissolve

Independent Political Parties led by Mbus Party Leader Lenny Kivuti(left), PNU Party Leader Peter Munya(left) and DP Party Leader Justin Muturi addressing the media in Nairobi on August 4, 2026 where they call on DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua to stop belittling other political parties after Rigathi's recent remark[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The  unity within the United Opposition appears to have hit a snag after cracks emerge as a section of the leaders now pull from different directions over what they felt was disrespect from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

This after former Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya, Justin Muturi and Mbus Party leader Lenny Kivuti accused Gachagua of what they termed as belittling partner parties and undermining efforts to build a united opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The trio, speaking at a joint press briefing on Tuesday in Nairobi, rejected Gachagua’s call to dissolve their individual parties and join the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

""It is worth noting that we cannot pretend to be growing our parties while simultaneously locking out others in order to own specific regions," said Party of National Unity leader Peter Munya.

Munya urged the former Deputy President to treat fellow leaders with respect, dignity and restraint.

"We are telling him to handle people with respect. Let him have discipline. It is good even for him because you ascend by riding on the shoulders of other people," Munya said.

Muturi echoed Munya's sentiments, accusing Gachagua of being hypocritical for hosting and embracing UDA leaders while rebuking other parties within the opposition.

"If he genuinely believes in political realignment based on principle and the sovereign will of the people, then he should encourage those elected on UDA tickets to resign and seek fresh mandates through by-election," said Muturi.

He added: "It is the responsibility other of every leader to respect the existence of each other partner parties,"

Their remarks come days after Gachagua made comments widely interpreted as dismissive of smaller parties allied to the opposition.

Speaking during a church service in Central Imenti on July 26, the DCP leader reportedly argued that only parties with significant political strength would determine the opposition's direction, urging smaller parties to fold and join the DCP.

According to Munya, Muturi and Kivuti, this, coupled with what they incessant "demeaning' sentiments by Gachagua against their political formations, did not sit well with them.

They told him off, arguing that the impeached DP neither have the legal nor moral authority to determine the future of other political parties.

And, while drawing from Mt Kenya's political culture, Munya argued that leadership is earned rather than imposed.

"Mt Kenya has lived that way for many years. Elders respect other elders. We never had a king. People bestow leadership on you because of the strength of your arguments and the values you push," said the PNU leader.

Muturi further cited Article 38 of the Constitution, maintaining that the DCP leader's sentiments contravenes the rule of law, even as he admitted that the remarks risks distablising the unity of the opposition.

"You cannot unite with someone who wants you to close  your door without proper negotiations."

According to Muny, they waited enough for "clarification" on the remarks by Gachagua saying "we have decided to be public because the sentiments were made in public."

Asked if the exchanges signaled division in the opposition, the leaders, however, dismissed suggestions that the leaders' public rebuke pointed to divisions within the opposition.

"There is no crack. Our agenda of working together to deal with the disaster facing this country is still intact," Munya said.

Munya said the leaders had deliberately chosen moderation despite what he termed repeated provocations.

"The reason we have restrained ourselves is because of the bigger picture. But you cannot unite with someone who wants you to close your door without negotiations," he added.

Muturi insisted that differing political opinions among coalition partners should not be interpreted as betrayal.

"It is not a question of a rift. People are allowed to hold views different from others. It is the responsibility of every leader to respect the existence and views of each partner party."

Mbus Party leader Lenny Kivuti noted that coalition politics must accommodate competing ideas instead of suppressing them.

"It is okay to sell your ideas, but it is not good to demean others. Everybody is at liberty to express their own ideals and what their parties stand for. Democracy is built on tolerance and divergent views," Kivuti said.

These latest exchanges come on the backdrop of intensified negotiations amongst the opposition political outfits.

On Monday Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka chaired an Azimio coalition meeting with Muturi and Munya in attendance among leaders, with similar meanings expected to continue.

Munya said the public rebuke they staged against Gachagua would not affect the negotiations .

"There is a pending retreat that is yet to be convened. The belittling of other parties will be among the issues on the table."