In a bold political maneuver aimed at consolidating Mt. Kenya’s opposition vote ahead of the 2027 General Election, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has proposed the creation of an umbrella opposition alliance dubbed the “Hyena Coalition” (Mafisi Coalition).
Speaking to a political delegation at his Wamunyoro residence in Mathira, Nyeri County, Gachagua urged all Mt. Kenya parties aligned with the “One-Term Movement” to embrace the controversial label and form a united front to defeat President William Ruto.
Turning CS Duale’s Remarks Into a Political Rallying Cry
The coalition’s unusual name stems directly from recent remarks by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who cited a traditional Somali proverb (“Waraabe la-tagis bartay, ka-ridis waa ku dhib”) referencing a hyena during an address in Mandera. While Duale clarified that the proverb was a figurative expression regarding long-enjoyed privileges and not a targeted attack, the remarks ignited widespread backlash across Central Kenya.
Rather than fighting the insult, Gachagua urged leaders in the region to weaponize it.
“Because Duale insulted us, we want to accept that name and call ourselves the HYENA Coalition. My brother JB (Justin Muturi), convene all of us in Mt. Kenya, we create the hyena coalition… to unite our people.”
— Rigathi Gachagua, DCP Leader
[ THE “HYENA COALITION” ROADMAP ]
Duale’s Proverb Remark ──► Outrage Across Mt. Kenya Region
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Gachagua’s Counter ──► Reclaim Slur as “Hyena Coalition”
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JB Muturi Convening ──► Mobilize 16+ Regional Parties
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2027 Blueprint ──► No Zoning + Single Presidential Consensus
The Strategic Blueprint: No Zoning, Maximum Agents
Gachagua has tasked former Attorney General and Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi with convening over 16 political parties from the region that have expressed interest in the unified platform.
Unlike traditional coalitions that demand party mergers or regional candidate zoning, Gachagua’s structure relies on decentralization and tactical collaboration:
No Regional Zoning: Every constituent party will be free to field its own candidates for Member of County Assembly (MCA), Member of Parliament (MP), Senate, and Governor seats.
Consensus for the Presidency: The parties will only negotiate to back a single, agreed-upon presidential candidate to confront President William Ruto at the ballot.
Agent Saturation at Polling Stations: By retaining multiple distinct party identities, the coalition can field a larger network of official election agents to safeguard votes across every polling center.
Gachagua cited the recent Ol Kalou by-election as proof of concept, where seven opposition-affiliated parties successfully cooperated to guard votes against the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Coalition Structural Breakdown
Strategy Feature “Hyena Coalition” Operational Model
Lead Conveners Rigathi Gachagua (DCP) & Justin Muturi (DP)
Participating Units 16+ regional political parties under the “One-Term” umbrella
Party Autonomy No mergers; individual parties retain branding and leadership
Candidate Allocation Open competition for local seats; consensus reserved strictly for Presidency
Primary Objective Prevent vote fragmentation and secure Central Kenya’s block vote
Avoiding the “Friendly Fire” Trap
Gachagua issued a stern warning to anti-Ruto factions against turning their political artillery on one another. He cautioned that internal squabbling among opposition principals would play directly into the ruling administration’s divide-and-conquer playbook.
“Fighting people within the one-term movement is not good energy,” Gachagua told
