Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi has launched a blistering attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of demanding half of a future government during negotiations with leaders of the Linda Mwananchi movement at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County.
Kibagendi alleged that Gachagua made the 50 per cent power-sharing demand during a meeting involving Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition figures, raising fresh questions about the former Deputy President’s intentions as political leaders attempt to assemble a united front against President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, November 2, 2026, the legislator questioned Gachagua’s authority to dictate the terms of opposition cooperation, arguing that the struggle against the Kenya Kwanza administration did not begin when the former Deputy President fell out with Ruto.
“When he invited Linda Mwananchi to Wamunyoro, I am informed that he demanded half of the government. Who does he think he is?” Kibagendi posed.
The MP suggested that Gachagua was attempting to position himself as the central authority within the opposition, potentially undermining other politicians who have independently challenged the current administration.
His allegations expose the growing disagreements over political influence, leadership and the distribution of government positions within an opposition movement that has yet to establish a common political command ahead of 2027.
Kibagendi Questions Gachagua’s Political Ambitions ¶
Kibagendi's criticism goes beyond the alleged 50 per cent power-sharing demand. The legislator is questioning whether Gachagua intends to build an opposition alliance based on collective leadership or one in which other politicians must operate under his authority.
The MP argued that several leaders had challenged the Kenya Kwanza administration long before Gachagua's impeachment and subsequent fallout with President Ruto.
He questioned why the former Deputy President appeared to be positioning himself as the ultimate decision-maker in opposition negotiations while other leaders had equally invested in confronting the government.
Kibagendi also took issue with Gachagua's reported remarks during a recent interview on Inooro FM, where the former Deputy President allegedly suggested that he could form a government alongside Sifuna and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka without necessarily involving other opposition figures.
For Kibagendi, such political positioning threatens the broader objective of bringing together opposition leaders with different political constituencies and ambitions.
He accused Gachagua of attempting to determine which politicians should campaign in particular regions and who should qualify for senior positions in a future government.
The legislator specifically questioned the apparent sidelining of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, former Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
He maintained that opposition unity cannot be built through political demands that leave other leaders feeling excluded or subordinate.
Kibagendi Recalls Fallout With Gachagua ¶
The Kitutu Chache South MP also revisited his earlier disagreement with Gachagua, recounting a 2023 meeting when the then Deputy President hosted MPs from the Gusii region to discuss development priorities.
According to Kibagendi, Gachagua questioned why opposition lawmakers expected development projects from the Kenya Kwanza administration despite not supporting the government.
He alleged that Gachagua specifically challenged him to seek development assistance for Kitutu Chache South from the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga instead of expecting the government to provide roads and other infrastructure.
Kibagendi said he took offence at the remarks and walked out of the meeting, despite attempts by fellow lawmakers, including South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, to persuade him to return.
The incident, according to the legislator, influenced his decision to oppose the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He subsequently criticised government policies, including the Housing Levy, and what he described as unequal distribution of development resources.
By bringing up the 2023 confrontation, Kibagendi is portraying his disagreement with Gachagua as a longstanding political dispute rather than a disagreement triggered by the latest opposition negotiations.
Linda Mwananchi Rejects Individual Ownership of Opposition ¶
Kibagendi defended the Linda Mwananchi movement, insisting that its objective was to strengthen opposition unity and establish a national political alternative capable of challenging Ruto in 2027.
He argued that the movement was not created to advance the personal ambitions of individual politicians but to bring together leaders committed to confronting the current administration.
The legislator maintained that no single politician should claim ownership of the opposition or dictate how political negotiations should be conducted.
He also rejected the idea that opposition cooperation should revolve around prematurely selecting one presidential candidate, arguing that leaders must first agree on a common political agenda and establish mutual respect.
“I am not in any way demanding that Matiang’i or Sifuna or Kalonzo must be the opposition flag bearers, but there must be unity in the opposition; there has to be respect for everyone, and that unity should be on getting this oppressive regime out and making Kenya better,” he said.
His position highlights a fundamental challenge facing opposition leaders. While they share an interest in challenging Ruto, they have different political ambitions, regional constituencies and expectations about their roles in a possible coalition government.
Gachagua Faces Growing Opposition From Within Opposition ¶
The latest accusations add another dimension to the political tensions surrounding Gachagua's efforts to position himself within the opposition.
His fallout with Ruto and subsequent formation of the Democracy for the Citizens Party have given him a separate political platform, but his engagement with other opposition formations has exposed competing interests over leadership and possible power-sharing arrangements.
The October 20, 2026, meeting at Wamunyoro brought Gachagua together with Sifuna and other Linda Mwananchi figures, creating expectations that discussions could lead to broader opposition cooperation.
However, Kibagendi's allegations suggest that disagreements over the distribution of political influence could complicate those efforts.
The central question is whether opposition leaders can agree on a common political programme without turning coalition negotiations into an early contest over presidential power, Cabinet positions and regional influence.
Gachagua has yet to be established as having made the alleged demand beyond Kibagendi's account, making the former Deputy President's response important in clarifying what transpired during the Wamunyoro meeting.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the opposition faces a choice between building an inclusive political arrangement and allowing competing ambitions to undermine its negotiations.
For Kibagendi, no politician should mistake his contribution to the opposition movement for ownership of the entire political formation. His warning is that unity must be negotiated, not imposed, and that no individual should demand half of a government before Kenyans have even voted.
