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Kenya
Odinga-Ruto rapprochement has Gachagua playing catch-up

Kenyan deputy president Rigathi Gachagua. © Li Yahui/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

The president's backing of his arch-rival's bid to helm the African Union Commission is a game-changer for Kenyan politics. The big loser is the deputy president, who is trying to rally his troops and bolster his flagging support in his native central region. [...]

Published on 14/03/2024 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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Politics

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Kenya
African Union Commission
Ferdinand Waititu
Jeremiah Kioni
Jubilee Party
Kikuyu Council of Elders
Kung'u Muigai
Martha Karua
Ndiritu Muriithi
Raila Odinga
Rigathi Gachagua
Royal Media Services
Uhuru Kenyatta
United Democratic Alliance
Wachira Kiago
William Kabogo
William Ruto

Kenya
Kikuyu leaders set sights on Nairobi governorship

Despite their numerical and economic dominance in the capital, this post has always eluded them.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 03.10.2024

Kenya
With deputy president's job on the line, Central Kenyan allies swing into action

Under fire from the president's ruling coalition, Rigathi Gachagua is relying on leaders of his Kikuyu community to stay in office. It is a strategy that is dividing his native Mount Kenya region.

Subscribers only Politics 01.10.2024

Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi, 15 May 2023.

Kenya
Expiring colonial-era leases feed into tensions

Land leases signed in Kenya the 1920s under British colonial rule have recently expired or are about to do so. The threat of eviction facing long-standing tenants and mounting land disputes are adding fuel to the country's political crisis.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 29.08.2024

Kenya
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Subscribers only Politics 27.08.2024

Former Kenyan interior secretary Fred Matiang'i in Nairobi on 25 November 2019.

Kenya
Ruto-Odinga entente takes ruling party to breaking point

William Ruto's appointment of five opposition politicians to government jobs has further clipped the wings of his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, who must also contend with a reconfigured opposition in his own central Kenyan fiefdom.

Subscribers only Politics 02.08.2024

Kenya
Deputy president and top security officials at loggerheads amid protests

Youth protests that began in mid-June led to a high-profile clash between Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and intelligence chief Noordin Haji, who is also at odds with Defence Minister Aden Duale.

Subscribers only Politics 03.07.2024

Rigathi Gachagua, Noordin Haji, and Aden Duale

Kenya
William Ruto orders audit to settle his land dispute

The Kenyan president, who is a big landowner, ran into a media storm in March after he was accused of having acquired agricultural land from someone who had obtained it illegally. He is trying to show he is being open about the affair.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 14.05.2024

William Ruto at State House in Nairobi on 9 May 2024.

Kenya
William Ruto's reshuffle dilemmas

The Kenyan president wants to revamp his cabinet in a bid to end the myriad crises affecting his government. But this will be no easy task because several threatened ministers are long-standing allies.

Subscribers only Politics 23.04.2024

Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi, 5 February 2024.

Kenya
Deputy president changes tack in quest for power in Central Province

Increasingly sidelined in recent years, Rigathi Gachagua is determined to shore up his political standing. After several false starts, he has now set his sights on a new target: supporters of Musalia Mudavadi, the prime minister and a key rival.

Subscribers only Politics 18.04.2024

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi on 30 June 2022.

Kenya
New conflict brews within government over cheap booze

Kenya's teetotal deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, has mounted a spirited effort to regulate alcohol production, especially in his native Central Province. Some businesspeople close to the executive are fuming.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 20.03.2024

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki.

Kenya
Ruling party worried as maverick MP makes headway in Central Province

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Kenya
Failing Uchumi supermarkets pay to keep United Bank for Africa sweet

The financially troubled Uchumi supermarket chain is undergoing a safeguard procedure to pay its creditors. The Ruto administration tried to step in itself, but United Bank for Africa has gone it alone and secured an advantageous arrangement with the company.

Subscribers only Finance, Business 08.03.2024

Kenya
Potential Odinga bid to chair AU Commission divides allies and foes

The Kenyan opposition leader has expressed an interest in the government's proposal that he run for the presidency of the African Union's executive arm. But his allies smell a trap, while some in power don't like the idea of him regaining his international standing.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 15.02.2024

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on 2 May 2023.

Kenya
Ruto's land reforms awaken post-colonial demons

Parliament is currently examining amendments dealing with the ownership of vast tracts of land acquired when Kenya was colonised by Britain. The opposition fears this might rekindle communal conflicts.

Subscribers only Politics 14.02.2024

Kenyan President William Ruto during the celebrations of Kenya's 60th Independence Day, in Nairobi on 12 December, 2023.

Kenya
Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya's most populous region is being torn apart over the fate of suspected members of the Mungiki religious sect disbanded by the government. In the background, a battle to win the support of unemployed young Kikuyus is raging between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his detractors.

Subscribers only Politics 16.01.2024

Kenyan DP Rigathi Gachagua, 12 September 2023.

Kenya
Isolated deputy president Gachagua curbs his lofty ambitions

Kenya's deputy president is losing support within the ruling party, where some are plotting to oust him, and is seeking appeasement by toning down his ambitions.

Subscribers only Politics 20.11.2023

Kenya's President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi, Kenya, 4 September 2023.

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua's regional ambitions still frustrated by Kenyatta

The Deputy President is failing in his bid to reign supreme in Kenya's Central Province, where traditional leaders continue to back former president Uhuru Kenyatta. William Ruto, meanwhile, is keen to contain his number two's influence.

Subscribers only Politics 29.05.2023

Kenyan vice-president Rigathi Gachagua in Nairobi, on 15 May 2023.

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Kenya
African Union Commission
Ferdinand Waititu
Jeremiah Kioni
Jubilee Party
Kikuyu Council of Elders
Kung'u Muigai
Martha Karua
Ndiritu Muriithi
Raila Odinga
Rigathi Gachagua
Royal Media Services
Uhuru Kenyatta
United Democratic Alliance
Wachira Kiago
William Kabogo
William Ruto

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Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Kenya
Odinga-Ruto rapprochement has Gachagua playing catch-up

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Kenya
Kikuyu leaders set sights on Nairobi governorship

Kenya
With deputy president's job on the line, Central Kenyan allies swing into action

Kenya
Expiring colonial-era leases feed into tensions

Kenya
Ex-interior secretary Fred Matiang'i seeks Kenyatta's support for 2027

Kenya
Ruto-Odinga entente takes ruling party to breaking point

Kenya
Deputy president and top security officials at loggerheads amid protests

Kenya
William Ruto orders audit to settle his land dispute

Kenya
William Ruto's reshuffle dilemmas

Kenya
Deputy president changes tack in quest for power in Central Province

Kenya
New conflict brews within government over cheap booze

Kenya
Ruling party worried as maverick MP makes headway in Central Province

Kenya
Failing Uchumi supermarkets pay to keep United Bank for Africa sweet

Kenya
Potential Odinga bid to chair AU Commission divides allies and foes

Kenya
Ruto's land reforms awaken post-colonial demons

Kenya
Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya
Isolated deputy president Gachagua curbs his lofty ambitions

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua's regional ambitions still frustrated by Kenyatta

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Kenya Odinga-Ruto rapprochement has Gachagua playing catch-up

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Kenya Kikuyu leaders set sights on Nairobi governorship

Kenya With deputy president's job on the line, Central Kenyan allies swing into action

Kenya Expiring colonial-era leases feed into tensions

Kenya Ex-interior secretary Fred Matiang'i seeks Kenyatta's support for 2027

Kenya Ruto-Odinga entente takes ruling party to breaking point

Kenya Deputy president and top security officials at loggerheads amid protests

Kenya William Ruto orders audit to settle his land dispute

Kenya William Ruto's reshuffle dilemmas

Kenya Deputy president changes tack in quest for power in Central Province

Kenya New conflict brews within government over cheap booze

Kenya Ruling party worried as maverick MP makes headway in Central Province

Kenya Failing Uchumi supermarkets pay to keep United Bank for Africa sweet

Kenya Potential Odinga bid to chair AU Commission divides allies and foes

Kenya Ruto's land reforms awaken post-colonial demons

Kenya Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya Isolated deputy president Gachagua curbs his lofty ambitions

Kenya Deputy President Gachagua's regional ambitions still frustrated by Kenyatta

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Senegal
Guns and oil drive Russia's Dakar courtship

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Kenya
Odinga-Ruto rapprochement has Gachagua playing catch-up

Kenya
Kikuyu leaders set sights on Nairobi governorship

Kenya
With deputy president's job on the line, Central Kenyan allies swing into action

Kenya
Expiring colonial-era leases feed into tensions

Kenya
Ex-interior secretary Fred Matiang'i seeks Kenyatta's support for 2027

Kenya
Ruto-Odinga entente takes ruling party to breaking point

Kenya
Deputy president and top security officials at loggerheads amid protests

Kenya
William Ruto orders audit to settle his land dispute

Kenya
William Ruto's reshuffle dilemmas

Kenya
Deputy president changes tack in quest for power in Central Province

Kenya
New conflict brews within government over cheap booze

Kenya
Ruling party worried as maverick MP makes headway in Central Province

Kenya
Failing Uchumi supermarkets pay to keep United Bank for Africa sweet

Kenya
Potential Odinga bid to chair AU Commission divides allies and foes

Kenya
Ruto's land reforms awaken post-colonial demons

Kenya
Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya
Isolated deputy president Gachagua curbs his lofty ambitions

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua's regional ambitions still frustrated by Kenyatta