Ledama Olekina launches scathing attack on Gachagua over politics of tribal numbers

Senator Ledama Olekina has launched a harsh criticism of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming that Gachagua's political campaign relies on tribal voting numbers rather than genuine leadership qualities. In a tweet on Tuesday, Olekina argued that Kenya's biggest hurdle to progress is the belief that electoral success is determined by these numbers. "The biggest disease rotting Kenya is this stupid belief that tribal numbers equal merit," Olekina asserted.

Olekina specifically targeted Gachagua's focus on the Mount Kenya region, accusing him of using the region's potential voting strength as a means to intimidate and influence the political landscape. "A man propped up by ethnic headcount is not a leader he is just a noisy ethnic warlord with a title," Olekina declared. He further challenged Gachagua to demonstrate the intelligence and leadership capabilities required to tackle Kenya's issues, stating "Numbers without brains, vision or national character mean nothing."

The scathing remarks come as Kenya gears up for the 2027 General Election, with Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) intensifying its grassroots mobilisation efforts. Gachagua has frequently emphasized the political weight of the Mount Kenya voting bloc, projecting that the region could secure over 7 million votes in the upcoming election. However, opposition figures, like Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, have disputed these claims, pointing to voter registration data as evidence against Gachagua's projections.

Olekina's criticism echoes similar concerns voiced by other opposition politicians, who have accused Gachagua of "chest-thumping" over tribal voting blocs. These concerns have sparked a broader political debate about whether the next election will primarily be fought on policy and national issues or ethnic coalitions and voting blocs.

Despite the criticism, Gachagua maintains that his political activities aim to give citizens a stronger voice in national politics and that competition between parties is a vital part of democracy.