Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has triggered political debate after what appeared to be an accidental endorsement of the UDA-nominated candidate in the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Gachagua, who has recently positioned himself as a fierce critic of President William Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), appeared to predict victory for the party’s eventual flagbearer during a church function in Nairobi.
Speaking at the elevation ceremony of Rev. Maina wa OTC to the office of Bishop at the Born Again Evangelism Church in Ruai, Nairobi County, Gachagua stated:“Pale Ol Kalou, yule atapita kwa UDA nominations is the next Member of Parliament.”
The remarks immediately sparked reactions among political observers and Kenyans online, many interpreting them as a rare public admission that the ruling party still enjoys significant political strength in the Mt Kenya region despite his ongoing fallout with President Ruto.
The statement was particularly striking given Gachagua’s recent political posture, where he has repeatedly accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of betrayal and sidelining leaders from the Mt Kenya bloc.
However, it was his Ol Kalou remarks that quickly overshadowed the religious event, with critics and supporters alike debating whether the statement was a political misstep or an honest assessment of the political realities on the ground.
The Ol Kalou by-election is expected to attract intense political interest, especially as parties seek to measure the shifting political mood in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
