Former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando has said that recent fallouts among political allies are not unusual and should be expected in politics.

Kabando cited several past political rifts, singling out the fallout between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his former allies—former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba—as a notable example.

He argued that there should always be room for respect for individuals one has worked closely with, noting that while the two leaders may be raising legitimate concerns, their apparent attempt to expose Gachagua appears influenced by their growing alignment with President William Ruto.

Kabando added that Gachagua may need to engage in soul-searching to address the allegations levelled against him and possibly mend the political rift.

“Political dynamics can force even the closest of allies to part ways. Politics often breaks even families—unadvisedly and unfortunately,” Kabando wa Kabando said in a post on Facebook on Tuesday January 20, 2026.

Other major political fallouts

The former legislator went on to highlight past political fallouts, singling out some of the most unlikely rifts, including the breakdown between former president Mwai Kibaki and his long-time allies Njenga Karume and John Keen.

Njenga Karume served as defence minister in Kibaki’s government after the 2002 elections, while John Keen defected to KANU in 1995 despite having been a co-founder and secretary general of Kibaki’s Democratic Party.

Kabando attributed such political fallouts—and the recent defections to President William Ruto’s camp—to financial interests, arguing that Ruto would go to great lengths to neutralise Rigathi Gachagua’s political influence. He maintained that Gachagua remains an important, vibrant, and indispensable political force working against Ruto.

“It was as sour as 1995, when Kibaki’s Democratic Party co-founder and secretary general John Keen defected to KANU. Keen is on record describing Kibaki as a leader ahead of his time, even calling him a ‘Westminster-style’ politician with a gentlemanly mien. Being a maverick, Keen could not be a sycophant. He also described Kibaki as ‘a thankless man.’ They are said never to have reconciled—it must have been a very deep disagreement,” Kabando said.

While remaining a supporter of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Kabando noted that political fallouts are part of Kenya’s political landscape and called for unity within the opposition to secure victory in the 2027 General Election.