ODM Youth League leader Kasmuel McOure announced on Sunday that the party’s youthful members will not support any coalition that includes former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The statement, delivered with conviction, cited Gachagua’s history of tribal politics and his role in suppressing the 2023 anti-Finance Bill protests as key reasons for the rejection.
This move has sent ripples through the opposition landscape, complicating efforts to build a united front against President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The United Opposition coalition, co-led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, has been working to consolidate various political forces to challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration. Gachagua’s inclusion in these talks was seen by some as a strategic attempt to broaden the coalition’s appeal, especially in the Mount Kenya region.
However, ODM youth have drawn a clear line, arguing that any alliance with Gachagua undermines the moral and ideological foundation of the opposition.
This rejection exposes deeper fractures within the opposition. Kalonzo Musyoka, who has long positioned himself as a bridge-builder, now faces the challenge of reconciling competing interests within the coalition.
The tensions are not limited to ODM youth and Gachagua; internal rivalries involving figures like Fred Matiang’i further complicate the picture. Matiang’i, once a powerful Cabinet Secretary, has reportedly clashed with other opposition leaders over strategy and leadership roles.
As the 2027 elections approach, the opposition’s ability to present a unified candidate against Ruto is increasingly uncertain. The youth’s stance reflects a broader demand for principled politics and accountability, signalling that future coalitions will need more than just strategic arithmetic—they will require genuine ideological alignment and trust.
