Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s alliance with his erstwhile political nemesis, widely seen as a bold attempt to exact revenge on the coterie of President William Ruto loyalists who orchestrated his ouster, is being followed with keen interest by potential supporters in his home turf in Nyeri County in central Kenya.

Despite the high-profile of invited guests, the electorate agree on one point: it is not going to be a walk in the park for the former deputy president.

Nearly a week ago, Gachagua organised a high-profile meeting at his Wamunyoro home in Mathira on May 5 that was attended by many opposition leaders as a show of camaraderie ahead of the 2027 general election. The message at the meeting was simple and direct: “Ruto must go.”

The message, which is said to have caused panic in President Ruto’s camp, has been scoffed at by his ally and confidant Farouk Kibet. Mr Kibet said on Saturday that the group opposed to the president’s second term “need prayers.”

Among those who attended the Wamunyoro meeting were People Liberation Party (PLP) Leader Martha Karua, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) Leader Eugene Wamalwa, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, former Agriculture Minister Mithika Linturi, and former Mukurwe-ini MP Kabando wa Kabando.

But even as the former DP is busy reaching out to former political opponents, a section of Nyeri residents are sceptical about the new alliance. They view the new political formation as a vehicle meant to propel some people into power devoid of any meaningful agenda to transform the lives of Kenyans.

“We’ve seen these coalitions before. They come together with big promises, hold rallies and grab headlines, but once the elections are over, they fall apart and go silent. It always feels like they’re more interested in getting power without making any real difference in people’s lives,” Simon King’ori, a matatu driver observes.

“Unless these leaders exhibit genuine commitment through action, it amounts to nothing but empty politics as usual.”

A bodaboda rider, Derrick Waweru, has cautiously welcomed the move but challenged the leaders to focus on real issues affecting Kenyans. Waweru argues that political leaders should first learn to be servants of the people in order to address the issues affecting the nation instead of rushing ahead to craft multipurpose vehicles to hoist them into political offices.

“I don’t care which party or leader takes power. What truly matters to me is whether my family can afford food, access quality health care and to find a decent source of livelihood,” Waweru said.

He adds, “If the opposition is uniting, they should do it with the sole objective of solving the problems affecting the country but not just to oppose President William Ruto’s government.”

Another bodaboda rider, Peter Kamau, said there can be no development in any country without unity of purpose across the board. Kamau cited the lack of unity among political leaders saying the same was the root cause of the current challenges facing the majority of Kenyans.

“We have waited for this kind of unity for years because a divided opposition has only made it easier for poor leadership to continue unchecked,” Kamau said.

“If these leaders can truly put their differences aside and stay united with the object of addressing the people’s needs, then we can talk about there being hope for real change. Then this could finally be the chance to improve the lives of ordinary citizens who have long been ignored and forgotten.”

Gachagua, who lost the second in command perch in government via impeachment, has been actively reaching out to political allies across the spectrum, turning his rural Wamunyoro home into an unlikely hub of political activities.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By  Samuel Maina and Christine Mumbi