Mr Gachagua has publicly declared that his DCP party is the sole political vehicle for the region, claiming control of over five million votes across the Mount Kenya counties. However, leaders from Mount Kenya East argue that their 1.5 million registered voters cannot be counted under the DCP banner, insisting that their region has its own leaders and parties with long-standing political roots.
Former Meru Governor Peter Munya, leader of the Party of National Unity (PNU), has emerged as a vocal critic of Gachagua’s approach. A close ally of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr Munya has dismissed DCP as a “minor outfit” and accused Gachagua of political arrogance. He has also thrown his weight behind former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions, with speculation rife that Munya could deputise Matiang’i in 2027.
In Embu County, former Senator Lenny Kivuti has revived the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), linked to veteran politician Kiraitu Murungi. The party is rebranding and rebuilding grassroots structures in Embu and Meru, positioning itself as a formidable counterweight to DCP. At the same time, former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has reclaimed the leadership of the Democratic Party (DP), marking a significant comeback and signalling yet another political vehicle to rival DCP in the region.
The resurgence of these parties underscores a clear strategy: to isolate Mr Gachagua and ensure that DCP does not dominate Mount Kenya East ahead of the 2027 General Election. Leaders from the region contend that while the mountain may appear united, political realities reveal a deeply fragmented landscape in which East and West are charting separate paths.
At the heart of the struggle lies the question of succession and influence. While Mr Gachagua views himself as the natural custodian of Mount Kenya’s political interests and a key contender for 2027, leaders from the East have declared that their loyalty cannot be taken for granted. Instead, they are rallying behind alternative presidential hopefuls, with Matiang’i emerging as the candidate of choice.
The political temperature is expected to rise as these parties reposition themselves in the run-up to 2027, with upcoming by-elections such as Mbeere North serving as a testing ground. For now, one message is clear from Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi: Mount Kenya East will not cede its political future to Gachagua’s DCP.
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