Rigathi Gachagua is talking again — and this time, he’s making his position on 2027 pretty clear.
The former Deputy President has thrown his weight behind the idea of a united opposition, saying plainly that if the right consensus candidate emerges, he’s willing to step aside and offer his support. Speaking at a recent political gathering, Gachagua made the case that his own presidential ambitions shouldn’t become a wedge issue that fractures the opposition at a time when unity matters most.
His message was direct: sit down, have honest conversations, and land on one person who can go toe-to-toe with President Ruto.
“My support for the presidency does not mean you can divide the opposition. Let’s join forces, listen to one another, and decide who will take on Ruto in 2027. I’ll back him if it’s impossible for me to be elected under another name,” he said.
It’s a notable statement from someone who hasn’t exactly been shy about his own presidential ambitions. Since his messy split from the Kenya Kwanza government, Gachagua has carved out a real presence in opposition circles — and he’s been consistent about one thing: a divided opposition hands Ruto a second term on a silver platter.
Behind the scenes, opposition leaders from ODM and several other parties are already having quiet conversations about coalitions and how power might be shared. Gachagua’s latest remarks seem designed to nudge those talks forward — positioning him as a team player rather than a spoiler, even as the competition for the top spot quietly heats up.
Whether opposition leaders actually manage to rally around a single flagbearer remains the big unknown. Political analysts aren’t holding their breath — they expect the landscape to stay messy and fluid right up until the campaigns kick into high gear.
As for President Ruto and ODM’s leadership, neither side has bothered to respond to Gachagua’s remarks. At least not yet.