Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has signaled growing unease within Rigathi Gachagua’s political camp, warning that former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and the Jubilee Party may be drifting away from the United Opposition coalition.
Speaking in Mwiki on Sunday, December 7, during a rally attended by Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Gakuya cautioned Jubilee against “walking a separate path” at a time unity is already fragile.
Gakuya’s remarks were widely interpreted as a subtle but pointed message from Gachagua’s wing, which increasingly views Matiang’i’s recent political moves as signs of disengagement from the coalition’s joint agenda.
“I want to tell Matiang’i and the Jubilee Party: stop following your own path, you will get lost,” he declared, hinting at a deeper rift that insiders say has been simmering for months.
The tensions have been fueled by recent accusations exchanged between Jubilee and the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), each claiming the other is acting as a mole within the opposition. Within Gachagua’s circles, these disputes have revived concerns that Matiang’i may be quietly positioning himself outside the coalition’s unified strategy for 2027.
This unease mirrors earlier clashes, including Jubilee SG Jeremiah Kioni’s claim in September that Gachagua was secretly negotiating with President Ruto – claims Gachagua dismissed vehemently, insisting he would work with “anyone but the president.” Gachagua later escalated his criticism by branding Jubilee “a red wheelbarrow” and alleging the party was engaged in covert dealings linked to UDA.
Matiang’i’s noticeable absence from key rallies led by Gachagua and Kalonzo has only intensified speculation that he is charting his own political course as he builds momentum for the 2027 race. Still, coalition leaders maintain that unity remains intact and insist they will eventually settle on a single presidential candidate to face William Ruto.