By The Weekly Vision Political Desk
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta re-emerged on the political scene last Friday, launching an offensive aimed at curtailing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s attempts to consolidate support in the Mt Kenya region. For months, Gachagua has been using Mt Kenya’s six million votes as his bargaining chip in negotiations within the United Opposition, which hopes to field a single presidential candidate against William Ruto in 2027. Uhuru Kenyatta’s return complicates that script.
Until Friday, the former president had largely kept out of active politics. But at the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference , he signalled his return in style, rejecting the notion of ethnic blocs as bargaining tools in opposition politics.
“Like any other political party, we shall be preparing for the next general elections and doing so in earnest, and it remains our firm intention to field the best possible candidates for all elective positions,” Uhuru declared, adding that Jubilee would either run independently or strike alliances with like-minded partners.
Political observers say this marks a deliberate attempt to reposition himself as the Mt Kenya power broker, a role Gachagua has been aggressively claiming since 2022. The appearance of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i at the event was no accident. Uhuru’s “Mr Fix-It” during his administration, Matiang’i, is widely tipped as Jubilee’s preferred presidential candidate. His candidature could redraw opposition power equations.
Yet questions linger: can Matiang’i rally the Kisii vote in its entirety, and does he have the grassroots machinery to withstand Gachagua’s regional hold on Mount Kenta? As one analyst put it: “Matiang’i is tough and qualified, but he must bring his home vote to the table. Without it, his campaign risks being stillborn.”
For Gachagua, Mt Kenya is the kingmaker. He has repeatedly cited the region’s capacity to deliver six million votes, almost enough on its own to deny Ruto a second term. He has challenged other opposition leaders, such as Kalonzo Musyoka, to grow their regional bases before demanding alliances.
But his impeachment last October, followed by his strained relationship with Uhuru, has weakened his grip. His attempts at reconciliation with the former president have been rebuffed. With Uhuru back in the ring, Gachagua’s dream of becoming Mt Kenya’s unchallenged kingpin, or kingmaker,looks increasingly fragile. Uhuru also appeared to take a swipe at Raila Odinga’s decision to work closely with President Ruto after the Gen Z protests.
Meanwhile, Kalonzo Musyoka, long viewed as a possible compromise candidate, may also feel the heat. He has been banking on Gachagua’s support if court cases bar him from running. But with Jubilee insisting on either the presidential ticket or nothing, Kalonzo’s room for manoeuvre is shrinking.
Despite his retreat from politics after 2022, Uhuru’s influence endures. Many in Mt Kenya now quietly admit regret for ignoring his warnings against Ruto, as the current administration struggles with high taxes, shrinking public services, and abandoned projects.
On Friday, Uhuru did not shy away from reminding Kenyans of that contrast: “Today, many of the gains of the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others have been replaced by new, untried and untested schemes. While we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is dragged.”
His words drew applause, but more importantly, they placed him back at the centre of the national debate. For the United Opposition, the stakes could not be higher. With Jubilee poised to insist on a presidential ticket, possibly through Matiang’i, the search for a single candidate becomes even more complicated. Instead of unity, the opposition risks fragmentation.
For Gachagua, the message is clear: Uhuru is back, and his path to Mt Kenya supremacy will not be as smooth as he had planned. For Ruto, the resurgence of his former boss could either fracture the opposition into unelectable pieces or unite them. Either way, Uhuru’s re-entry has reshuffled the cards. The next few months will determine whether it was a masterstroke or a desperate gamble.
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