Kenya’s political stage has been shaken by a fiery war of words between former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now the Democratic Change Party (DCP) leader, and Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, with the two trading accusations that expose widening cracks in President William Ruto’s camp.
The feud erupted after Gachagua branded Wahome a “puppet of President Ruto”, alleging that she no longer speaks for Mt. Kenya voters but merely echoes the president’s political interests. He accused her of abandoning regional priorities such as fair revenue sharing, equitable state appointments, and the controversial “one man, one shilling” debate that has dominated Mt. Kenya politics.
In a quick rebuttal, Wahome dismissed the remarks as reckless and politically motivated. She painted Gachagua as “the chief inciter”, accusing him of stoking unnecessary divisions within Mt. Kenya to shore up his own political base. Wahome argued that Gachagua’s confrontational style risks undermining the coalition government’s agenda and destabilizing the region ahead of 2027.
The exchange reflects deeper tensions within the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Gachagua, who lost his deputy presidency after the 2024 fallout with Ruto, has been repositioning himself as Mt. Kenya’s political kingpin through the Democratic Change Party. His strategy has been to portray himself as the defender of regional interests against what he calls “state capture from within.”
Wahome, a long-time ally of President Ruto and current Lands, Water, and Housing CS, has emerged as one of Gachagua’s fiercest critics. By calling him an “inciter,” she casts him as a destabilizer rather than a unifying voice for Mt. Kenya.
For President Ruto, Mt. Kenya remains a crucial voting bloc that secured his 2022 victory. Any perception of division could weaken his grip on the region and embolden the opposition. For Gachagua, the fight is existential — he is seeking to solidify his new party’s base and position himself as Ruto’s strongest challenger or a kingmaker in the next polls.
The Wahome–Gachagua spat has therefore become more than a personal quarrel. It symbolizes the broader battle for control of Mt. Kenya’s political soul, with loyalty to Ruto on one side and Gachagua’s regional revival campaign on the other.
Whether the feud escalates or cools down will depend on Ruto’s ability to rein in allies on both sides. But for now, the “puppet versus provocateur” showdown has laid bare the fragile state of unity within the ruling coalition
By Creatorhub