The daily reported that tension at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party's top leadership was escalating, with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua wanting to find new political partners. According to Daily Nation, the deputy president is in talks with The New Democrats (TND) for a political partnership in the face of his likelihood to quit the ruling party. TND secretary general Dabviud Musembi confirmed that Gachagua's loyalists had represented him in meetings with the party officials for a possible deal.
"There have been talks, but there is nothing tangible to speak about at the moment. Maybe something will come out much later," Daily Nation quoted Musembi as saying. Former president the late Mwai Kibaki's son Jimmy Kibaki, who recently resigned as TND's deputy party leader, also confided in Daily Nation that he had heard of the deputy president's interest in the party after he quit. "He has acquired a political party and recently approached a governor from Western Kenya to be part of of his team. He even asked him to plan a meeting with a senior former Cabinet minister so that they can discuss future politics," said the source. Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga, an authoritative confidante of Gachagua, also spoke to the likelihood of his (Gachagua's) imminent walkout from the ruling party.