The DP launched unsavoury attacks at the Kenyattas during the 2022 presidential campaigns, accusing the first family of not only impoverishing Kenyans but also seeking to install their preferred president.
Gachagua was among Kenya Kwanza politicians who verbally attacked Mama Ngina Kenyatta, the former first lady and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's mother with unpalatable remarks.
However, his move to extend an olive branch to Mama Ngina and Uhuru has lifted the lid on his Damascus moment, sparking a debate about his motivation and the ultimate objective.
Some say that behind the unexpected move lies intricate layers of strategic manoeuvring and calculated alliances, as Gachagua navigates the complex dynamics of regional politics ahead of the 2027 election.
Professor Gitile Naituli told the Star that Gachagua has panicked because the ground is shifting away from the Kenya Kwanza because of the government's unfilled promises and punitive taxes.
"Mt Kenya people like results. Gachagua knows that the people are running away from UDA and he is following them but the people will remember that he stood for shareholders and not them,'' the Multimedia University professor said.
Naituli termed Gachagua's apology hollow and lacking sincerity but asked Mama Ngina to forgive him.
''Gachagua should have known that politics is local and that he has no party of his own like Musalia or Wetang'ula. He shouldn't have fought the Kenyattas,'' Naituli said.
While some view his actions as a shrewd tactical manoeuvre aimed at fostering unity within the Mount Kenya region, others speculate on ulterior motives driven by self-preservation and ambition for post-2027 election.
There are indications that Gachagua's pursuit of a truce stems from a genuine desire to consolidate support and present a united front in the face of potential challenges posed by President William Ruto's ambitions for the 2027 election.
Ruto's truce with Opposition leader Raila Odinga is also seen as another reason why DP has gone flat out to mend fences with his hitherto critics and reconcile with the Kenyatta family to insulate himself just in case the dynamics change ahead of the next polls.
By aligning himself with the Kenyatta family, Gachagua aims to preempt any moves by Ruto to select a deputy from any other county other than Nyeri, positioning himself as the preferred choice for the role.
The former district officer, under the Nyayo era, is keen to consolidate Mt Kenya as a bloc to enhance his bargaining power as he seeks to retain his post as Ruto's second.
There are fears that the President could drop him for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi should Mt Kenya be fragmented further or go for Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro when push comes to shove.
Nyoro appears to be building his political bases beyond the Mt Kenya region, traversing the country with a series of public events as he positions himself as Ruto's possible running mate.
With the President having options beyond Gachagua, the DP is determined to consolidate his backyard, heal post-election wounds and firm up his grip as the kingpin to limit Ruto's alternatives.
Ruto's narrow victory in the 2022 general election was attributed to solid backing by the populous Mt Kenya region despite huge opposition from his predecessor Uhuru who backed Raila's presidential bid.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo on Wednesday termed as political Gachagua's olive branch to the Kenyatta family, saying it is a "self-preservation" move.
"I think it's a result of the things happening in Mt Kenya region. Some disquiet is building, some are contending to replace him from his seat and that is public knowledge," Amollo said.
"He needs many friends and the many friends he can gather, including Uhuru Kenyatta, the better for him."
The Rarieda MP said the DP's apology could be a calculated move to preempt a potential backlash and consolidate his political position.
On Monday during an interview with Kameme FM, Gachagua declared a seismic shift in the political narrative of the region, asserting his pivotal role in steering its discourse.
He expressed remorse over the disrespectful behaviour exhibited towards Mama Ngina.
"In 2022, politics had deteriorated to a deplorable state. There was a regrettable lack of respect, with insults being hurled at Mama Ngina, and I am very sorry for that. We humbly request her forgiveness," he said.
The Kenyattas had faced intense criticism, including an incident involving Northland City, on March 27 last year, where it was raided by goons believed to have been state-sponsored following their earlier declaration of support for Raila.
And in July last year, the Kenya Kwanza administration came under sharp focus when Uhuru called in the media and complained about a raid at his son’s house over claims that he had firearms without the licenses.
“I may be silent, but that does not mean that I fear you, come after me if you must. What relevance does my mother or children have in this matter?" he said.
On February 1 last year, senators from the ruling party called upon the National Assembly to scrutinise tax exemptions granted to the Kenyatta family during Uhuru's presidency.
Additionally, they demanded an audit of the former president's assets to ascertain whether his family had fulfilled their obligations in paying land rates.
The senators' initiative elicited a fiery response from Mama Ngina, who declared her readiness to undergo property auctioning should evidence of tax evasion be substantiated.
Her defiant stance underscored the gravity of the accusations and highlighted the intensity of the debate surrounding the Kenyatta family's financial affairs.
Political pundits say that the Kenyatta family is such a formidable unit that, if it deploys its perceived vast resources and political networks in Mt Kenya, it can give Gachagua a run for his money and slam brakes on his bid to retain his DP post in 2027.
Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni, a key Uhuru ally, on Tuesday criticised the DP's apology to the Kenyatta family and Mama Ngina in particular.
He questioned the sincerity of Gachagua's apology, saying that it might have been motivated by self-interest rather than genuine remorse.
Kioni went on to emphasise that the derogatory remarks made by the Kenya Kwanza politicians during the campaigns had not only harmed the Kenyatta family, but also the broader Kikuyu community.
"The pivotal question lies in discerning whether this apology is merely superficial or sincere. We must recognise the insults endured in 2022; these affronts impacted not only the first lady but also the former president," he said in an interview on K24.
He insisted on a fresh apology to be issued publicly in the presence of a larger audience and called upon other Kenya Kwanza politicians who had made disparaging remarks about the family to similarly apologise.
"Remember the insults were done in public. It is important that when this apology is directed, it should be directed to more people than the one mentioned and should be done in public where the insults happened," he said.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Tuesday, during a burial ceremony in Nyandarua county, commended the DP for his reconciliation endeavour with the Kenyatta family.
Kuria said that in the wake of Gachagua's actions, he also independently reached out to the Azimio leader and sought reconciliation and forgiveness.
"I express gratitude to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for his recent strides in fostering unity, particularly within the Mt Kenya region. His gesture of extending an apology to Mama Ngina Kenyatta exemplifies the importance of unity and reconciliation. Furthermore, I have taken the initiative to reach out to Raila Odinga and sought reconciliation and forgiveness," he said.
Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, a critic of the DP, insisted that his expression of regret lacked the requisite ingredients required to mend fences, especially after offending someone close to the status of a mother.
In her statement, she implied that Gachagua could have done more than just a mere TV apology in his bid for reconciliation.
"A step in the right direction but falls short of the required 'thinjo' to fully atone when you offend, nay insult your mother or elders," Karua wrote.
But Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha, an ally of Gachagua, backed the DP's apology.
"Mount Kenya region cannot afford to harbour past grudges as doing so could impede the region's growth and progress," he said.
New Democratic Party leader Thuo Mathenge said that by extending an olive branch to former Kenyatta allies like Maina Kamanda and the Mount Kenya region, the DP seeks to solidify his support base and neutralise potential adversaries.
He said that his change of tactics and embracing leaders in the region is commendable and which should be welcomed by what is deemed the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru Association (Gema) community.
"One thing is clear: in the high-stakes game of Kenyan politics, alliances are forged and broken with calculated precision, and Gachagua's latest gambit may well determine his future trajectory on the political stage,” Mathenge said.
Senator John Methu of Nyandarua on Tuesday said that embracing unity within the region would yield significant benefits.
He emphasised that it was through forgiveness that Kenya Kwanza MPs welcomed nominated MP Sabina Chege and the East African Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega into their ranks.
Methu said there was a period during which Azimio leaders in the Mount Kenya region struggled to collaborate with their Kenya Kwanza counterparts, often resorting to hurling harsh words at each other.
"We would have preferred to continue our confrontations with figures like Kanini Kega and Sabina Chege. However, our Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua implored us to embrace them as brethren," Methu said.
Political analyst Albert Kasembeli has warned that DP's overtures may backfire if the Kenyatta family decides to deploy its network ahead of the next election.
He said that in such a scenario, Gachagua could face significant challenges in his bid for reelection, as the influence of the Kenyattas could sway the electoral landscape against him and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Gachagua's efforts to forge a truce with the Kenyattas underscore the critical importance of regional unity and cohesion in shaping the political landscape of Kenya. As he seeks to consolidate support and strengthen his position within the region, his strategic alliance with the Kenyattas holds profound implications for the future trajectory of Kenyan politics,” Kasembeli said.
Jomo Kenyatta University Of Agriculture And Technology don and political analyst Charles Mwangi interprets the DP's sudden shift in behaviour and his embrace of the Kenyatta family as an integral aspect of his political manoeuvring aimed at courting support within the region.
He argued that this strategic move is particularly significant given the substantial influence wielded by Uhuru and the Kenyatta clan, bolstered by their considerable financial resources.
“By integrating himself with the Kenyatta family, Gachagua aims to secure their support and cooperation, thereby increasing his influence and bargaining power in the lead-up to the next election,” he said.
Party of Democratic Unity national chairman Isaiah Gichu echoed the sentiments, adding that the DP’s efforts to cultivate alliances within the Mount Kenya region underscore his determination to consolidate power and influence.
He said that aligning with the Kenyattas offers the DP access to a powerful network of influence.
The Kikuyu Council of Elders recently called for reconciliation between retired Uhuru and Gachagua.
Led by their national chairman, Wachira Kiago, the council emphasised the importance of unity among the two prominent leaders within the region.
" Both of them are our leaders, and as elders, we urge them to come together and chart the way forward for our community," Kiago said.
Kiamwangi MCA Kung’u Smart has said that Mudavadi may present a potential obstacle to Gachagua's political aspirations.
"Mudavadi's possible ascension as Ruto's deputy in 2027 poses a threat to Gachagua's plans. For the Kikuyu community, this could signify a loss of political relevance unless they undergo a transformative shift and embrace Gachagua as their kingpin," he said.
