Wamuzi News Ke
A batch of high-stakes political claims and scathing rebukes erupted across Western Kenya yesterday, as leading figures in the opposition coalition unleashed a blistering attack on President William Ruto — accusing him of betrayal, broken promises and deliberate regional neglect.
Unprecedented Blow from within Kenya Kwanza
Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) stalwarts — Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka and interim UDA secretary-general Cleophas Malala — spearheaded a fierce campaign tour in Kisumu, Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties yesterday, July 3.
At Luanda Market in Vihiga, Gachagua tore into the president, declaring: “I locked Ruto out of Mt Kenya and the key is with me. … When I asked for your share, they branded me a tribalist and kicked me out”.
He floated the proverbial “key” as a symbol of their ideological and electoral stranglehold over Mount Kenya — telling supporters he held the mechanism to unlock the next political era.
“Conned” — Direct Charge Against the President
After landing in Kisumu and proceeding to Kakamega town, the coalition branded Ruto’s 2022 campaign as a sham inflicted on Western voters.
“You were conned,” Malala and Kalonzo thundered, accusing the president of using the region to ascend to power, only to abandon it once in office.
Rallying Western Against Broken Pledges
In Kakamega, Malala delivered his most stinging indictment. He accused Ruto of reneging on multiple key pledges: constructing 1,000 km of road across Western Kenya; reviving the Nzoia and Mumias sugar plants; and injecting employment into teaching and military sectors.
“I am the one who brought William Ruto to Kakamega… we agreed on these promises. He is a liar. I am here to announce I have left him. I am with DCP,” Malala declared — directly seceding from the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Standing flanked by allies—including Eugene Wamalwa, Fred Matiang’i and Trans‑Nzoia Governor George Natembeya—the group said they aimed to consolidate opposition resolve ahead of 2027.
Civil Disruptions: Highway Bonfires Signal Defiance
Before the evening rallies, vigilante youths briefly paralyzed Kisumu–Kakamega highway by burning tires and setting bonfires — though the perpetrators remain unidentified. Police swiftly moved in to clear the barricade, as opposition leaders drove through the smoke to address locals.
A United Opposition, Or Political Theatre?
The weekend-long tour has been billed as a concerted mission — a “liberation cause” — to rally grassroots energy, counter government narrative, and solidify a united opposition platform.
Their path is no mere ceremonial stop: the tour follows weeks of intense mobilisation across Ukambani, the Coast, Meru and Laikipia. It is widely interpreted as the launchpad for their coordinated push into 2027.
The Stakes: Regional Representation on the Line
Western Kenya has emerged as a litmus test for the coalition’s viability outside the presidential core in Mt Kenya. The opposition claims the region has been consistently sidelined—its roads deferred, factories shuttered, employment agreements ignored.
President Ruto, meanwhile, has remained largely silent, offering no direct retort to yesterday’s attacks. The presidency has yet to respond officially to the accusations.
What Comes Next?
Today, the opposition is expected to descend on Bungoma, Busia and Trans-Nzoia, where they will present their alternative governance agenda and engage voters directly.
This explosive two-day rally not only marks a turning point in the opposition’s strategy—it may well signal the largest political realignment in Western Kenya since 2022. And as the tour accelerates toward hotly contested territories, the question remains: how will Nairobi and its leadership counter a wave they have labelled “conned”?
