The only glue that is holding former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka together is the desire to unseat President William Ruto in 2027, this is according to Dismus Mokua.
However, the political risk analyst says that the glue will start to melt away when the time to make a key decision arrives—the time for the opposition to pick their presidential candidate.
“For Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka, the glue holding them is “Ruto Must Go”, and the desire for Ruto to be a one-term president,” Mokua said in an interview with TV47 on Tuesday, May 6. “But the glue will start melting away when they need to take a decision on who will be the presidential candidate.”
According to Mokua, the opposition — led by Kalonzo and Gachagua — are getting it all wrong in terms of what unites them, as well as their messaging to Kenyans. Mokua is of the opinion that the opposition should rise above mere rhetoric and political theatrics to offer a compelling and credible alternative to President Ruto and his broad-based team.
“While there is a part of Kenya that wants Ruto to go, a part of Kenya that wants a one-term presidency, but so what? After Ruto goes, what happens next?” Mokua posed.
He lauded Dr Fred Matiang’i’s messaging during the opposition’s meeting over the weekend, insisting that it resonated with Kenyans who yearn for better governance of the country.
“During the meeting, Matiang’i did not even talk discuss about the person of President Ruto. He did not discuss about the coalition. He said, ‘Kenya has a -problem, and we want to offer solutionS’. That is how Matiang’i came in and gave a message of hope to Kenyans. He did not shout ‘Ruto must go’.”
Brought together by all the wrong reasons
The fact that the opposition coalition coalesces around Gachagua, an impeached deputy president, does not sit well with Mokua.
To Mokua, Gachagua is behaves like a jilted lover who wants to use the 2027 General Election to settle personal scores.
“Rigathi Gachagua and President Ruto were tight friends at some point, and when their friendship collapsed because of personal issues, now Gachagua wants to nationalise his personal issues. He wants to use the 2027 elections to settle personal scores.”
