Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of putting personal political interests ahead of efforts to unite the opposition and defeat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Muturi said Gachagua's attempts to dominate opposition politics through what he described as political bullying and claims of regional voting strength risked alienating other leaders whose support would be necessary to mount a credible challenge against Ruto.
In a strongly worded statement, the Democratic Party leader reminded Gachagua that no individual or ethnic community could claim ownership of the opposition or the presidency.
"Mr Gachagua must understand one fundamental truth: No Kenyan President has ever been made by one community alone," Muturi said.
He dismissed the idea that an alliance built around three regional political blocs would automatically deliver victory, arguing that winning the presidency required a broader national coalition.
"A tripartite arrangement is not a magic formula for State House," he said.
Muturi's remarks came amid growing disagreements among opposition leaders over the structure of their proposed alliance, the distribution of political influence and the process of selecting a joint presidential candidate.
He also questioned whether Gachagua's political mobilisation was aimed at securing a united opposition victory or positioning himself to control the coalition's parliamentary and county-level representation.
"Is the objective to win the presidency or to control MPs, legislators and devolved units while sacrificing the bigger national ambition?" he posed.
The former Attorney General accused Gachagua of creating an atmosphere in which other opposition leaders were expected to follow his political direction rather than participate as equal partners.
He insisted that no single leader had the authority to dictate how the opposition should organise itself or determine who should eventually carry its presidential ticket.
The latest exchange follows Gachagua's proposal for an alliance bringing together his Democracy for the Citizens Party, Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement.
Gachagua has argued that opposition leaders must demonstrate their ability to mobilise voters before a presidential candidate is selected, maintaining that defeating Ruto will depend on the numbers each political formation can deliver.
He has also cited his experience as Ruto's running mate in the 2022 elections, insisting that he understands what it takes to assemble a winning political coalition.
However, his approach has drawn criticism from Muturi and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, who have questioned his leadership style and warned against attempts to dominate the opposition.
Matiang'i has similarly accused Gachagua of majoritarian arrogance, arguing that such an approach could make it difficult for opposition leaders to work together.
The disagreement has also extended to the timing of the presidential nomination. While Kalonzo has cautioned against allowing supporters to prematurely declare candidates, Gachagua has called for continued consultations and grassroots mobilisation before the final decision.
Muturi also invoked the political history of Gachagua's family, citing the 2013 election of his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, as Nyeri governor on a GNU ticket despite the different political arrangements surrounding the presidential contest.
He used the example to argue that political alliances do not belong to individuals or particular communities and that electoral success requires broader cooperation.
The exchanges expose the challenge facing opposition leaders as they attempt to agree on a common strategy against Ruto, who is seeking a second term in 2027.
