Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is a man under siege as competing forces within his Mount Kenya backyard threaten his high profile political career.

With just over 15 months as the country's second in command, Gachagua faces disgruntled voices demanding he should be dropped as President William Ruto's deputy.

Worse, the growing rebellion comes from within Gachagu's own UDA party and right from his Mount Kenya base.

UDA leaders and close allies of the President from Central Kenya and Mount Kenya East have come out openly to endorse their own to replace Gachagua as Ruto's deputy in 2027.

The Central Kenya MPs, mainly from Murang'a, are rallying behind Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro while their Mt Kenya East counterparts are vouching for Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.

Further complicating things for the DP are alleged schemes by Public Service Cabinet Moses Kuria, who is said to be positioning himself as Mount Kenya's next political kingpin.

Kuria and Gachagua had bitter exchanges last year over the high cost of living, with the DP telling off the CS to stop addressing Kenyans “with arrogance”.

Kuria has planned a mega football tournament bringing together the 10 counties of Mt Kenya.

The tournament schedule for February 4 is seen as having heavy political undertones.

Kuria, however, says the activity is meant to mentor and counsel the youth in Mt Kenya region.

Apart from the tug of war within Kenya Kwanza, the Azimio axis led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta is also plotting a major political comeback.

Uhuru has publicly declared that he is in the opposition to stay and has quietly been meeting his allies to plan his next political steps.

And then there is former Mungiki leader Main Njenga who has declared himself the region's political kingpin

Njenga's political activities — bringing together hundreds of youths — have drawn the ire of the state.

The war facing Gachagua was exposed by Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu and Gatanga MP Edward Muriu.

The two lawmakers have told President Ruto to replace his running mate in 2027 to salvage his reelection.

"We will request Ruto to choose a young person from Murang’a who is Ndindi Nyoro. Gachagua has lost his ground, treating people disrespectfully, including elected leaders," Nyutu stated.

"The women of Murang’a also give birth to leaders and Ndindi Nyoro is qualified enough to deputise Ruto and become a leader," added Muriu.

Earlier this month some 15 MPs declared support for Nyoro as Ruto’s successor in 2032.

Nyoro, a confidant of President Ruto, is an accomplished youthful leader celebrated for effective use of the National Government Constituency Development Fund.

His Kiharu constituency has been ranked several times as leading in the country in utilisation of the fund.

Another group of lawmakers from Mt Kenya East also agrees to calls to replace Rigathi but differs on who should step in the shoes.

According to the MPs, Interior CS Kindiki fits the bill for Ruto’s running mate in 2027.

Kindiki narrowly lost to Gachagua in 2022, something that almost broke the then nascent Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Should the script play out as planned, it will be the second time the region would be fronting a candidate to replace the second in command.

In 1989, then Vice President Josephat Karanja was replaced after his backyard rebelled against him and fronted another candidate.

Gachagua has however trashed the onslaughts on him.

He says his main focus is helping the President Ruto deliver to Kenyans.

The succession politics, he says, is not only disrespectful but also baseless and immature.

“The President is one year in office. It is wrong to talk about his succession. It is also disrespectful to the President since he has nine more years in office,” Gachagua said in response to the jostling in his backyard.

“I want to ask Kenya Kwanza leaders to focus on the President’s success and avoid succession politics.”

Anti-Gachagua forces argue that he has been unsuccessful in uniting the Mt Kenya region and should pave way for fresh blood.

He is faulted for failing to address issues facing the region like reforming the coffee and tea sectors.

But Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga dismissed the calls for replacement of Gachagua, insisting that the DP is the region’s de facto leader owing to his position in government.

“Rigathi Gachagua, by virtue of his position, is the de facto leader of the Mountain. Any other thought is far-fetched,” Kahiga said.

“Being the chairman of budget [committee] is good, we congratulate Ndindi Nyoro. Kimani Ichung’wah is the Majority Leader, we congratulate him. But these are positions lower than the Deputy President.”

Gachagua, the self-proclaimed truthful man, is also targeted by Uhuru – the man he publicly disparaged during their swearing in before world leaders.

Gachagua alongside other political leaders have been accused of being behind the attack on Kenyatta family's Northlands farm that saw hundreds of their sheep stolen and trees touched.

“In the heart of hearts of the Kikuyu nation, Uhuru is still their leader. That is why Gachagua and the young politicians have been unable to inherit the region. They have been boxing a shadow,” political analyst Herman Manyora said.

Already Uhuru is said to be crafting a well-knit political wave comprising of mainly his former allies who lost in the last election.

Uhuru met Jubilee politicians from Kiambu county alongside Azimio leader Raila Odinga last late year

“When all is done, there will be no trace of UDA in Mt Kenya and it will be very difficult to get anyone to run on that ticket in our region,” Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni told the Star in a recent interview.

The DP’s shaky hold on the region is not made any better by the activities of former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, who is also consolidating his support base of mostly of youths against Gachagua

Njenga's meeting in Nyeri was scuttled by police, days after Gachagua warned residents against attending.