ODM MPs Hit Back at Gachagua Over Nyanza Political Claims

A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)-aligned Members of Parliament has criticised Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua over his recent remarks on the political direction of the Nyanza region.

Led by Seme MP James Nyikal, the lawmakers accused Gachagua of attempting to rewrite his political history and present himself as an ally of a region whose leaders, they claim, he previously criticised.

The MPs warned that Nyanza would not be treated as a political bloc whose votes can simply be captured by political leaders seeking to build national alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election.

They maintained that voters in the region would make their political decisions based on their interests, leadership choices and democratic convictions.

“While Mr. Gachagua is entitled to pursue his political ambitions and seek support in every part of Kenya, he must understand that Nyanza is neither politically naive nor afflicted by collective amnesia,” the lawmakers said.

The remarks highlight the growing political competition for support in Nyanza as political parties and opposition leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

The ODM lawmakers also cautioned against what they described as political provocation, insisting that the region would resist attempts to dictate its political direction.

Gachagua’s attempts to expand his political influence beyond his traditional Mount Kenya base have increasingly placed him in competition with established political networks across the country.

Similar criticism has emerged from the Coast region, where leaders led by Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho criticised the DCP leader’s political approach during an event in Vitengeni, Kilifi County.

Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker Francis ole Kaparo has called on the government to take firm action against the rising cases of political goonism.

Kaparo said security agencies must act firmly, fairly and without favouring particular political interests in order to protect the country from escalating political tensions.

The Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics has also raised concerns over the emerging political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The religious leaders warned political actors against turning young people into instruments of political violence, urging leaders to protect the youth from political manipulation.

The political exchanges come as Gachagua makes further allegations concerning the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The DCP leader claims that divisions have emerged within the electoral commission over the alleged irregular award of a tender for an elections information management system.

Gachagua alleged that IEBC Chairman Erastus Edung and Vice Chairperson Fahima Arat Abdallah had been compromised in the tendering process, claiming that the process was being pushed against the wishes of other commissioners.

The allegations add another dimension to the growing political debate surrounding preparations for the 2027 elections, with questions over the independence and credibility of electoral institutions expected to remain central to political discussions.

As political alliances continue to take shape, the battle for influence in regions such as Nyanza and the Coast is expected to intensify, with leaders increasingly seeking to define their positions and build support ahead of the next General Election.