Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly declared himself the leading contender to fly the opposition’s flag in the 2027 presidential election, asserting that he has both the political capital and national support to unseat President William Ruto after one term.
Speaking in Boston during a diaspora engagement and the launch of Democratic Change Party (DCP) satellite offices at the Well of Worship Hall in Massachusetts, Gachagua addressed the simmering tensions within the opposition over who should be the coalition’s presidential candidate.
“I am the frontrunner, and I think I have the best chance to be president,” Gachagua told the crowd, positioning himself as the most viable alternative to President Ruto.
The former deputy president, who parted ways with Ruto earlier this year, insisted that no consensus has been reached within the opposition on a joint candidate, despite speculation of power-sharing deals and backroom negotiations.
“We have not settled on anybody. There’s only one thing that has been agreed on—and it’s Wantam,” he said, referencing the emerging unity framework among opposition parties.
Gachagua emphasized that each aspirant is currently building their own political base, and that a major meeting will be held in December 2026 to determine who stands the best chance of defeating Ruto.
“Everyone who wants to be president has been told: go and look for your votes. Mobilize your supporters. After Christmas next year, we will meet and decide who carries the flag—just one candidate to face William Ruto,” he said in Swahili.
Touting his influence in the populous Mt. Kenya region, Gachagua claimed he was instrumental in mobilizing support that helped secure Ruto’s 2022 victory, asserting he delivered nearly half of the total vote tally.
“I mobilized 4 million people from this mountain to make you president. I will mobilize 8 million from this community to send you home,” he declared, drawing cheers from the audience.
Gachagua’s month-long U.S. tour is aimed at consolidating support both from the Mt. Kenya diaspora and back home, as the opposition prepares for a high-stakes presidential race.
Other prominent opposition figures also eyeing the ticket include Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, NARC Kenya’s Martha Karua, former Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i, and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. However, Gachagua’s bid comes amid ongoing legal battles, including a pending impeachment case filed earlier this year.
