The Silent War: Ruto and Gachagua’s Nyanza Tour Unveils Hidden Tensions Amid Strategic Alliance with Odinga
President William Ruto’s recent tour of Nyanza highlights the significant political shifts since the contested election nearly two years ago, revealing a subtle power struggle with his deputy beneath their public display of unity.
In a surprising move last month, President Ruto included former political adversaries in his Cabinet after reconciling with opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had been a staunch opponent of involving the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.
Tensions have surfaced between the President and his deputy, despite the united front they present.
While their visit to their former rival-turned-ally’s stronghold was meant to showcase their camaraderie, unexpected developments have brought underlying tensions to light.
As the competition to win over Odinga’s supporters intensified, the President had the advantage during his tour of the region. Despite previous antagonistic remarks, Mr. Gachagua was also surprisingly welcomed with enthusiasm.
This unexpected development has brought the quiet discord within the presidency to the forefront, especially after both leaders’ offices separately shared video footage highlighting moments when they were cheered by the crowds.
On Wednesday evening, State House shared videos predominantly featuring Dr. Ruto receiving warm receptions in Migori and Kisumu counties.
The following day, Mr. Gachagua’s team shared edited footage of the Wednesday events, focusing on moments where he received applause.
In the footage from the Deputy President’s team taken in Migori and Nyatike, the President is shown briefly when inviting his deputy, with the rest of the video highlighting Mr. Gachagua’s speeches, which praised Mr. Odinga.
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Both politicians received an unexpectedly warm welcome in a once hostile region, signaling a strong endorsement of Mr. Odinga.
Politically, there has been a complete turnaround as leaders who once vilified Mr. Odinga now praise him as a visionary to win over the Nyanza people.
A subtle but evident contest for Mr. Odinga’s supporters’ attention unfolded between Dr. Ruto and Mr. Gachagua.
It was widely anticipated that the President would be warmly received after including Mr. Odinga’s allies in his Cabinet. These allies include Mr. John Mbadi, who now heads the National Treasury and National Planning, Mr. Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Mr. Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Mr. Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and SMEs), and Ms. Beatrice Askul (East African Community).
Mr. Gachagua, known for his strong criticism of Mr. Odinga in the past, has been vocal about his disapproval of the opposition leader.
Last year, the Deputy President went as far as claiming that he had set traps at the State House to prevent Mr. Odinga from working with President Ruto.
His controversial characterization of the Kenya Kwanza administration as a shareholding company was perceived as a jab at regions that overwhelmingly supported the opposition.
Some expected the Nyanza tour to corner Mr. Gachagua, given his apparent disapproval of opposition figures receiving Cabinet positions.
Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, an ally of Mr. Gachagua, commented that it is not unusual for the State House to share video footage featuring only the President.
Mr. Gathiru added that even during the height of the fallout between then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto, Mr. Kenyatta’s team often edited out Dr. Ruto from online clips.
However, he noted that this did not prevent Kenyans from voting for Ruto and believes it will not have any significant impact now.
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The Embakasi Central lawmaker also noted that Mr. Gachagua received a warm welcome in Nyanza because “he speaks the truth and stands for what is right.”
During the first two days of the tour, Dr. Ruto and Mr. Gachagua took every opportunity to praise Mr. Odinga, who the President has since unveiled as Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Their remarks about the veteran politician contrast sharply with their previous accusations during the lead-up to the August 9, 2022, General Election.
The duo had blamed Mr. Odinga for the collapse of the Jubilee administration following the March 9, 2018 handshake.
They also accused Mr. Odinga of attempting to force a handshake on Dr. Ruto through opposition-led protests against the high cost of living early last year.
“These protests are not in the public interest but are intended to advance selfish business interests. I tell them to forget about a handshake. We know you, and we can see you,” Dr. Ruto said on January 24 last year.
He had also criticized the Jubilee government, in which he was deputy, during a Chatham House address in London in March 2022.
“Today in Kenya, we have a mongrel of a government. You don’t know whether it is the government that is in opposition or the opposition is in government. The leader of the opposition is a project of the system,” he said.
For a president who had been under siege for nearly two months from nationwide youth-led protests, the enthusiastic crowds and warm reception in Nyanza offered a positive image amid shaky political support in Mr. Gachagua’s Mt. Kenya region.
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To appeal to the region that opposed him in 2022, President Ruto showered praises on Mr. Odinga.
“We have moved away from the politics of division. We are better off with the new inclusive government that sets Kenya on a path to progress,” the President said in Homa Bay on Thursday.
He told the crowd that Mr. Odinga’s decision to support his mandate was based on their past relationship.
“I was once his foot soldier, and there was a time I once helped him. If Baba returns a hand to help me, is there any problem?” President Ruto asked.
“I and Baba (Raila) have a long history together. We have been close for many years. I decided to help Baba because I respect him. He is a reformist who has fought for democracy. This is why we have resolved as the East African Community to support him for the AU Commission seat.”
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita said the warm reception President Ruto received indicates that Nyanza is ready to work with him.
Mr. Nyamita added that the region has been eager to be part of the government.
“The appointments of our brothers to the Cabinet and the allocation of funds for projects have energized the region. There is now a sense that our political future lies with Dr. Ruto, not any other politician,” he said.
He also noted that Mr. Gachagua has stopped making derogatory remarks about Mr. Odinga.
Homa Bay United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Silas Jakakimba described President Ruto’s visit as unprecedented and timely. UDA is President Ruto’s party and the main outfit in the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
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“It is unprecedented because, for the first time since 2007, the President has been given a hero’s welcome in Migori, Kisumu, and Homa Bay counties,” Mr. Jakakimba said.
“In 2007, he was a key player in Mr. Odinga’s presidential campaign, bringing a lot of energy to it. He now returns as President, having reconciled with Mr. Odinga despite their past differences.”
Mr. Jakakimba emphasized that the differences between Mr. Odinga and President Ruto were never personal but stemmed from differing views on Kenya’s development path.
“Our people understand this, which is why they have embraced the President, recognizing his commitment to providing equal services and balanced development across the nation,” he said.
Muhoroni MP Onyango K’Oyoo said that leaders from Nyanza met with the President and realized that he has good intentions for the region.
“We discussed many projects for the region, including the revival of the sugar sector, the Soin-Koru dam, and others. He committed to helping the region achieve its potential,” Mr. K’Oyoo said.
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However, Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, who opposes the deal between Dr. Ruto and Mr. Odinga, said that the President and his deputy aim to inherit the veteran opposition leader’s support base.
Mr. Kioni claimed that even the government’s support for the AU Commission bid is merely a tactic to win over Nyanza.
He added that Mr. Odinga “will soon realize that Ruto is not genuine in his support for him.”
“Ruto believes that with Raila out of the picture, he can take over his Nyanza and other support bases to replace the Mt. Kenya region that has drifted away from UDA,” he said.
During the official unveiling of Mr. Odinga’s AU seat nomination in Nairobi on Tuesday, Mr. Gachagua stated that he never had a personal issue with the ODM leader.
“As an honest man, I had nothing against him. We were simply competing for the same position,” Mr. Gachagua said.
“We’re witnessing the transformation of Raila Odinga from a national leader to an African statesman. As leaders, we have learned valuable lessons of resilience, endurance, and perseverance from him.”
The Silent War: Ruto and Gachagua’s Nyanza Tour Unveils Hidden Tensions Amid Strategic Alliance with Odinga
