By Anderson Ojwang
Kirinyaga county, at the funeral of former senator David Karaba, evoked the 2002 general elections moment, when the opposition united under the NARC umbrella to defeat the ruling party Kanu.
The meeting was reminiscent of 2002 when the opposition rallied behind the late Mwai Kibaki to defeat Kanu presidential candidate Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.
DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa speaking at the burial said the Kirinyaga meeting was a special one and evoked the sweet memories of 2002, when the opposition teamed up to defeat Kanu.
“Today is a historic day. In 2002, the opposition united and defeated the Kanu candidate. The candidate is here with us today. The candidate was former President Uhuru Kenyatta. And with Uhuru’s wisdom, we are capable of uniting,” he said.
Wamalwa said it was the first time in history that former President Uhuru and Gachagua have met publicly in a jovial and happy mood.
Uhuru differed with his former Personal Assistant, Rigathi, who teamed up with President William Ruto in the 2022 general elections and denied his candidate, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, victory.
Gachagua managed to secure for Ruto more votes in the country’s vote-rich basket to deny Raila victory at the presidential ballot.
Uhuru and Gachagua’s fallout dominated Mt Kenya politics and the recent move to reconcile them seems to have borne fruit.
Wamalwa said the opposition will build on the 2002 momentum and will field one presidential candidate and that they will not disintegrate.
“This is the first time I am seeing Uhuru and Rigathi sitting together. This is the first time a united opposition is sitting with Uhuru. This is the first time we have sat with Linda Mwananchi and we hope they will be part of us in changing the political course of the country,” he said.
He said the funeral brought them together and he hopes the leaders will embrace unity and come up with a single presidential candidate to face Ruto.
Several MPs who attended the funeral from the region who spoke said it was the first time and challenged Uhuru and Gachagua to ensure Mt Kenya was united under one political course.
Gachagua said it was important for the opposition to revisit and learn from the 2002 experience to deliver Kenya from the leadership of President Ruto.
He said in 2002 as personal assistant to Uhuru, they knew he would lose to Kibaki but went to the ballot in preparation for future contest.
“We knew you would lose but we encouraged you. For the unity of the opposition, I had to seek Martha Karua and JB Muturi. I want to confirm whoever we agree on as the presidential candidate for the opposition will get the Mt Kenya votes. We will rally behind that candidate as the opposition,” he said.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Kenya was in a revolutionary moment and that the opposition cannot afford to be divided to give President Ruto a second term.
“We will bring all Kenyans together and deliver a responsive regime, which understands the plight of the people,” he said.
He told President Ruto that his regime will look for Uhuru now that he has been seen with the opposition and may opt to harass him.
“Uhuru, they will look for you and may even send KRA to harass you. Sit tight. They would never like to see you with us and see us united. Stand on principle. We are determined. This is God’s making. We shall not look back. Watch the space,” he said.
Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i told Mt Kenya to listen to former President Uhuru ahead of the next year’s general elections.
Siaya Governor James Orengo said Kenyans were in the problem they are currently in because the people of Mt Kenya refused to listen to Uhuru.
“I like speaking the truth. If you had listened to Uhuru Kenyatta, we would not be in this problem. Karua would be president today. It is good to listen. I come here as a friend,” he said.
Orengo said the late Raila directed ODM leaders not to engage on two-term activities for President Ruto.
“Kenya is one term. Kasongo must go. He is a very strategic politician. He has bought ODM and he will never take it away. We must make the life of Kasongo very difficult. He must not sleep,” he said.
Karua said the opposition cannot afford to be divided and was part of the 2002 opposition unity and was ready to ensure the moment is revisited.
“We will have a united presidential candidate. In our opposition parties we will have friendly fires in Mt Kenya but this will not divide us,” she said.
Muturi said the opposition unity was important to win the 2027 presidential elections and they must guard against President Ruto’s schemes.
“The opposition unity is why we are here today. We are the united alternative government. Unity is the savior of this country,” he said.
