- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua challenged Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on the United Opposition’s schedule to reveal its 2027 presidential candidate
- Gachagua said the opposition will nominate a candidate just a few months before the election, citing the risks of facing government pressure early
- He dismissed claims that the opposition is divided, insisting that the leaders continue to be united as they plan to unite the parties in 2026
- Gachagua revealed that some politicians from Kenya Kwanza have approached him privately, suggesting a possible move
Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua has disagreed with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka about when the United Opposition will announce its presidential candidate before the 2027 General Election.
Source: Facebook
Just days after Kalonzo announced that the opposition would market him in the first quarter of 2026, Gachagua on Saturday, January 3, 2025, urged patience.
What is the Kenyan opposition planning to elect one candidate?
Speaking at the funeral of Alice Wangari Gakuya in Makomboki village, Murang’a County, Gachagua told mourners that the process would take place just a few months before the elections.
Gachagua said, drawing on his personal political experience to emphasize the need for caution, adding that the opposition’s priority is unity and strategic planning.
He repeated that the opposition intends to nominate one candidate to oppose the administration Kenya First.
“We will have one candidate to oppose Ruto. And I want to ask for patience. Don’t rush him. The election is still far away,” he said.
Gachagua compared their method to the method used in 2002, when the late former president Mwai Kibaki when he was announced as one presidential candidate two months and 13 days before the general election.
The former deputy head expressed his fear that naming a presidential candidate early would put them in a situation of facing what he called persecution from the government.
“If we announce our leader now, he will be threatened by Ruto. We cannot do that,” Gachagua said.
Is the Kenyan opposition really united?
Speaking about the concern that the opposition is divided, Gachagua rejected the claims while fighting to keep the leaders together.
He outlined plans to strengthen the opposition and form a ‘party’ in 2026 before choosing a single candidate to face Ruto.
The leader of the Democratic Party for the People (DCP) reaffirmed that the opposition was still united, adding that they were just waiting to find a leader.
“I’m asking everyone to calm down. I’ve seen people calling me saying, ‘Oh, the opposition has collapsed.’ How did you fall? The opposition is you. You are just waiting for a leader,” he added.
Source: UGC
Gachagua also revealed that some politicians in Ruto’s administration have been approaching him privately, hinting at the possibility of a coalition.
He said that waiting will benefit them as it will give them time to leave the Kenya Kwanza administration and join the opposition.
“And I also want us to wait for these people, like Sifuna, aren’t they coming? And there are others, like central ministers and ministers from Ruto’s side, they are looking for me at night in the dark, saying they are coming. So wait, relax!” Gachagua said.
Why was the Lamu Member of Parliament attacked while Gachagua just watched
Earlier, Lamu women’s representative, Monicah Muthoni Marubu, faced opposition after she praised the Kenya Kwanza government during a funeral attended by Gachagua.
While offering condolences, he praised the “Singapore dream” of President William Ruto and highlighted the good roads and electricity of Mount Kenya.
Problems arose when he announced his support for Ruto’s re-election in 2027, using the word ‘tutam.’
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