Uhuru Office Disowns Statement Criticising Gachagua’s Political Style

The Office of the Fourth President has dismissed as fake a statement claiming that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta repeatedly rejected requests to meet former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The statement, which carried the official insignia of Kenyatta’s office and the name of his spokesperson, Kanze Dena, was described as fabricated. The office warned the public against treating it as an authentic communication from Kenyatta or his staff. The disputed statement claimed that intermediaries had attempted to arrange meetings between Kenyatta and Gachagua, but that the retired President declined after “careful consideration”. 

It also attributed strong criticism of Gachagua’s political style to Kenyatta, portraying him as unwilling to engage with a politician who was described as hostile towards allies and inclined to turn disagreements into public disputes. Kenyatta’s office rejected the claims and said no such communication had originated from the former President or his staff. 

The fake statement comes amid speculation about the relationship between Kenyatta and Gachagua. Gachagua, who now leads the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has positioned himself as a supporter of Mt Kenya unity. He has described a proposed opposition alliance as the “Hyena Coalition” and called on opposition leaders to unite ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Despite his impeachment under the Kenya Kwanza administration, Gachagua has continued to describe Kenyatta as a potentially important figure in the region’s political calculations. He has also said he could seek the retired President’s support if circumstances required it.

In May, Gachagua acknowledged Kenyatta’s continuing relevance in politics. He said the opposition was confident it could challenge President William Ruto without outside support, but would approach Kenyatta if the political situation changed.

“Uhuru did his work, and he is supposed to rest, but that does not mean we cannot call him when the need arises,” Gachagua said. 

He added that he would personally approach Kenyatta if necessary, while maintaining that the opposition was strong enough to mount a credible challenge on its own. The controversy comes as Kenyatta’s continued involvement in public affairs remains a subject of political debate. 

Allies of President Ruto have accused the retired President of interfering in politics and seeking to undermine the administration. Kenyatta has defended his right to participate in national affairs, citing constitutional freedoms.

He has previously urged Ruto to follow the example of former President Mwai Kibaki, who allowed his predecessor, Daniel arap Moi, to express dissent without interference. Gachagua has also defended Kenyatta’s right to speak on matters of governance and warned against attempts to silence him.