Caroli Omondi foresees 16M votes consolidating under Azimio
By Faith Lagat, April 3, 2026Suba South MP Caroli Omondi has painted an optimistic picture for the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election, forecasting that Azimio la Umoja could consolidate around 16 million votes.
In a pointed interview on April 2, 2026, Omondi highlighted the potential for the coalition to replicate a scenario similar to the 2002 Rainbow Coalition, which ended President Daniel arap Moi’s decades-long dominance of KANU.
“His Excellency, the retired President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is actually the chairman of Azimio Council,” Omondi noted. “Kalonzo Musyoka, His Excellency, is the party leader.”
He described the deep personal and political ties binding key players, particularly between Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party.
Omondi revealed that Gachagua had served as Uhuru’s personal assistant for nearly 20 years and contributed significantly when ODM was being formed.
“I’m very confident that in the fullness of time, they’ll find a common path. And I think it will be significant,” he added.
Signs of reconciliation on public stage
The optimism comes shortly after a dramatic reconciliation moment on April 1, 2026, during the burial of former Kirinyaga Senator Daniel Karaba in Kirinyaga County.
Kenyatta and Gachagua shared light moments on the podium alongside other opposition figures, including Martha Karua. It was the first time the two had appeared together since their fallout before the 2022 elections.
At the same event, Gachagua sent a strong message to President William Ruto and his allies: “You cannot come between me and my brother Uhuru Kenyatta; you are not one of us.”
He dismissed claims that the two leaders could not work together, stressing that their 20-year bond outweighed a three-year political feud. Gachagua described issues in Mt. Kenya as complex and best understood by “mountaineers” themselves, implicitly questioning external interference.
Mt Kenya leaders softening stance
The thawing relations extend beyond the two leaders. Allies of Kenyatta have shown a softer stance toward Gachagua. Jubilee Party deputy leader Jeremiah Kioni visited Gachagua at his Karen residence in March 2026, calling him the “undisputed king of the mountain.”
Former Gatanga MP David Murathe also expressed confidence in Gachagua’s ability to challenge Ruto in 2027. Kenyatta himself has reportedly cautioned party members against attacking Gachagua, with expulsion as a possible consequence.
Political analyst Peter Kagwanja framed the dynamic in traditional Kikuyu terms: Uhuru as the Muthamaki (king/leader) and Gachagua as the Mutongoria (one who manages daily affairs under the king’s guidance).
Omondi urged patience and private resolution, hinting that broader opposition elements could follow suit, evoking the 2002 coalition that united disparate forces.