Gachagua meets Peter Munya, downplays fallout with Mt Kenya allies

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met with Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya on Saturday, August 8, 2026, to address tensions in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election. Gachagua affirmed that no entity, including President William Ruto, would cause division within the region. He asserted, "The Mountain is ONE!

Nobody can get between us! Only Kasongo traitors can try to divide us. But it cannot work!" This statement occurred after a public disagreement between the two leaders over opposition politics and the role of their respective parties. Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has faced accusations from Munya and other opposition figures of trying to dominate Mt Kenya politics and coerce smaller parties to merge with his group.

Munya maintained that PNU would remain an independent political party and rejected Gachagua's influence as the region's sole political spokesperson. The dispute intensified when Munya called Gachagua a "bully" and accused him of using disrespectful language towards other opposition leaders, which undermined efforts to form a united front against the current administration.

Gachagua dismissed these criticisms and insisted that he was not attempting to force any party to dissolve. The leaders also disagreed on the conduct of opposition negotiations, with Munya rejecting the use of Gachagua's residence as a venue for coalition talks. Gachagua's meeting with Munya was seen as an effort to ease tensions and prevent further division within the opposition alliance.

By invoking the phrase "The Mountain is ONE," Gachagua aimed to separate personal conflicts from the broader political unity of the Mt Kenya region. However, the underlying issues of party supremacy and leadership remain unresolved, posing a significant challenge to the emerging united opposition's ability to effectively challenge the ruling Kenya Kwanza party in the upcoming election.