The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has condemned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for , dismissing his recent letter to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as political fiction.
The party’s response, dated November 24, 2025, represents one of the most harsh official communications in recent Kenyan political history.
The controversy erupted when Gachagua wrote to IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon raising concerns about the selection of election officials for the Magarini Constituency by-election scheduled for November 27, 2025.
However, the UDA Party chose to launch a comprehensive assault on his character rather than engaging with the substance of his complaints.
In a letter by UDA Party, signed by Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan, describes itself as underwhelmed by what it calls the latest installment of Rigathi Gachagua’s now-familiar genre of political fiction.
The party characterizes his communication as an operatic barrage against Commissioner Fahima Araphat Abdallah, delivered over sensational accusations that the UDA clearly views as lacking merit.
The party describes Gachagua’s letter as pompously premised on the structural stability of a collapsing tent and upholstered with rhetorical enhancements perfected during his timeously truncated tenure as Deputy President.
“Mr. Gachagua’s letter is pompously premised on the structural stability of a collapsing tent and upholstered with rhetorical enhancements perfected during his timeously truncated tenure as Deputy President,” read part of the stamenent.
This reference to his truncated tenure is a pointed reminder that Gachagua was impeached and removed from office, a fact the UDA believes fundamentally undermines his current posture.
Central to the UDA’s argument is what it describes as the acrobatically strenuous nature of perceiving sudden devotion to integrity from someone who, when properly weighed on the scales of public service, was found excruciatingly wanting across several dimensions of humanity and leadership.
The party then catalogs what it presents as Gachagua’s record, describing a notorious pattern of condescending conduct, inflammatory utterances, calls to violence, and a haunting chapter of defrauding widows.
Particularly damning is the UDA’s characterization of Gachagua’s era in office as distinguished largely by acrimony, vengeance, bitterness and an unbroken record of unmitigated hostility towards women in leadership. The party suggests this is not an isolated incident but part of a documented pattern.
Memorably, his era in office was distinguished largely by acrimony, vengeance, bitterness and an unbroken record of unmitigated hostility towards women in leadership,” read the statement.
On the substantive legal question, the UDA states that the selection of electoral officials is governed strictly by law, institutional procedure, and the Commission’s independent constitutional mandate.
The UDA argues that Gachagua’s personal attacks on Commissioner Abdallah raise immediate constitutional red flags, sitting in disturbing tension with Article 91 of the Constitution, which requires political parties to respect and promote human rights and gender equality.
The party contends his rhetoric flirts dangerously with constitutional proscriptions against political advocacy grounded in hatred or intimidation.
“Mr. Gachagua’s rhetoric flirts dangerously with the proscriptions in Article 91 (2) of the Constitution, against political advocacy grounded in hatred or intimidation. No democratic society can afford to normalize such abominable conduct,” the statement read.
The UDA respectfully urges the IEBC to exercise maximum legal reflection when dealing with Gachagua, emphasizing that his long and well-documented disregard for public order imperatives should neither be underrated nor countenanced.
The party calls upon other institutions of governance to deal with what it describes as Gachagua’s insensate calls to violence every time he senses defeat in a political contest.
“The UDA Party respectfully urges the IEBC to exercise maximum legal reflection when dealing with Mr. Gachagua. His long and well-documented disregard for public order imperatives should neither be underrated nor countenanced,” read the statement.
