Malala Speaks Out on Alleged Rift With Rigathi Gachagua
Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala is firing back at claims that he and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua are at odds – saying these reports are just a desperate attempt to break up the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Talking on June 6th, Malala laid into the Kenya Kwanza government, accusing them of spinning some pretty outlandish propaganda in an attempt to cause confusion and mistrust between opposition parties.
Malala Rejects Claims of Division in Opposition
Addressing his supporters, Malala was blunt: “The fact is, there isn’t a smidgen of truth in these claims that Gachagua and I are at each others throats”
Insisting that this is all part of a bigger plan to chip away at opposition unity as the political temperature starts to rise . The former senator said the Ruto administration is desperate to cling to power and is using this kind of misinformation to try and discredit them.
“Newsflash to the spin doctors – Gachagua and I are still thick as thieves and we’re both as committed to the opposition as ever,” he said
Malala made it clear that his relationship with Gachagua is rock solid . He also insisted that he is fully committed to his party the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and that there are no problems between him and the party leadership.
‘I Have No Problem With My Party Leader’
Malala stressed that the real aim of the fake news being spread is to create division and distract the opposition from doing what they do best – fighting for a better future for the country.
“Let me be clear – I’m not having any of this nonsense about a rift with my party leader. I’m actually a deputy party leader for DCP. But even if I wasn’t – I’m not about to let the likes of that sort of gossip get in the way of our common goal of making things better for Kenya,” he said
His comments come as the opposition is finalising its plans for the 2027 general election – and various leaders are jostling for position.
Eyes on Kakamega Governor’s Seat in 2027
Comments on the Governor’s seat have just rolled in , just days after Malala made a public declaration that he’s throwing his hat into the ring for the 2027 General Election and gunning for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat.
During a funeral gathering in the county on May 30 – where he made a pretty big speech – Malala announced he’d be running again, saying that he genuinely feels he got robbed the last time round.
Malala told those at the funeral that he is dead set on taking on Fernandes Barasa, the incumbent Governor, and – in his own mind – is the only one who can make a real go of it.
Malala Targets Barasa in Early Campaign Message
In a pretty fiery pitch, Malala let rip at the other potential challengers saying that none of them have the clout to give Barasa a run for his money.
He took a particular pop at Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda – saying they’re no match for the Governor.
“In 2022, we thought we’d got you on board Malala but somehow it just slipped through our fingers. I’m coming back to fight for this because Barasa is going down and these other contender’s just dont have what it takes to take him out.
“Time’s run out for Khalwale, he’s been around since I was a kid. Muhanda should stick with what she’s good at and I’m the only one strong enough to take Barasa on head on,” Malala declared in a bit of a battle cry.
A Look Back at the 2022 Kakamega Race
In 2022’s Kakamega gubernatorial contest Barasa cruised to victory on an ODM ticket after counting up 192,929 votes.
Malala on the other hand ran on a UDA ticket and managed 159,508 votes – finishing a pretty respectable second.
It’s now over a year till the official campaigns kick off but Malalas latest outburst signals that things are already starting to heat up in Kakamega – and it looks like we’re building up to what could be one of the county’s most watched contests in 2027.
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Malala Speaks Out on Alleged Rift With Rigathi Gachagua
