It is now evident that a pact between the retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party, may be in the offing.

Their pact could now be a matter of when and not if.

The two were once allies for close to 20 years, with Gachagua serving as his personal assistant for seven years, but they fell out in the run-up to 2022 when they found themselves on different sides of the political divide, something that led to an ugly political confrontation.

However, in the recent past, the rift that existed between the two has begun narrowing.

The meeting between the two during the funeral of former Kirinyaga Senator Daniel Karaba has continued to shake the country, sending signals of a possible reunion for their 2027 political interests. Many political analysts and observers have foreseen that, should the duo unite, they might spell doom for President William Ruto’s re-election.

Prior to the meeting, former Attorney General Justin Muturi had long predicted the same. He stated that should the two former allies, who hold significant support from the Mt Kenya region, join hands, the chances of Ruto being defeated at the polls would be high.

He further added that a pact between the two would send a strong message to the country, signalling that they are joining hands to rescue Kenya from what he termed the “kleptocracy of the current regime”.

“It will send a very strong message to the country that we are moving together. The conversation will be that we are rescuing the nation because the kleptocracy of Ruto has gone too far. If they unite, the chances of defeating Ruto will increase substantially.”

Significance of the Uhuru-Gachagua pact

Political analyst Herman Manyora has also foreseen the same. He stated that a handshake between the two would sway the Mt Kenya region in favour of the united opposition.

He added that Uhuru using Gachagua’s party symbol, “Skiza Ground”, where he interlaced a hand around the ear, saying that even he, while in his home in Ichaweri, is listening to the ground just like Gachagua, is not something to take for granted.

It shows that he is ready to work with Gachagua and that they were telling the region that if he and Gachagua had united, why would they not unite?

“The fact that Uhuru used the DCP symbol, demonstrating it to the ear, listening to the ground, seems to indicate to us that there is a major shift happening in the mountain and that the mountain seems to be agreeing that there is a major need to unite.”

“If Uhuru and Gachagua were to sit together and work together, that ends the whole thing. It means the mountain is gone for good and in a big way. Ruto must have been hoping that Uhuru and Gachagua would never work together.”

He added that with optics and perception in politics being very important and something that speaks volumes, according to Manyora, should the two even be seen having a cup of tea in Wamunyoro or Ichaweri without saying anything, it would still be significant enough to sway a large portion of votes to the side of the DCP leader and the broader united opposition.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who is also the Secretary General of Azimio la Umoja, has also added his voice.

He stated that the Uhuru-Gachagua meeting spoke volumes and that they should be allowed to solve their issues and differences.

He added that should they form a pact ahead of 2027, he foresees over 16 million votes being scooped by the united opposition and Azimio la Umoja, giving Ruto an early defeat.

Uhuru’s influence in Mt Kenya

Peter Kagwanja, on his side, has described Uhuru as a ‘Muthamaki’, a king or a leader, and Gachagua as a ‘Mutongoria’, a leader who carries out daily errands of the community on behalf of the king and who takes instructions from the king on what to execute.

He added that Uhuru carries significant influence in the Mt Kenya region and will be the one to decide who will be voted in 2027 and is capable of producing the next president.

When asked why the two are delaying coming together and working towards a common front, Muturi replied that processes are ongoing, hinting that in due time there will be ‘white smoke’, as both leaders are working on something behind the scenes.

Uhuru’s allies change stance

Allies of the fourth president, such as former Gatanga MP David Murathe, have begun embracing Gachagua, even expressed soft words at him and softening their stance towards him. Murathe even endorsed Gachagua, saying that he is best suited to carry the united opposition flag in 2027.

Similarly, Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni has also come out to shelve his past feud with Gachagua.

He even met him at his Karen residence, and since then, he has been heaping praise on Gachagua, proclaiming him as the undisputed kingpin of the Mt Kenya region.

He added that what Gachagua has done in the past year in the past one year he has been in the opposition, the late Raila Odinga never did in all the years he was in the opposition.