Elect me as your 6th president, ex-DP Gachagua urges Kenyans

DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua waves at the crowd during his rally in Nyeri town, January 8, 2025. /RIGATHI GACHAGUA/X

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declared that he will challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election, insisting he is the only leader capable of unseating his former boss and making him a one-term president.

Speaking on Thursday during rallies at Marikiti and Gikomba markets aimed at popularising his candidature and his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua said Kenyans should prepare for a direct contest between him and Ruto at the ballot.

“I ask that you elect me as Kenya’s sixth President,” Gachagua told a charged crowd, maintaining that the country needed a change in leadership direction.

His declaration comes at a time when the United Opposition has yet to agree on a single flagbearer to face Ruto in 2027.

It also comes amid questions surrounding Gachagua’s eligibility to vie following his impeachment as Deputy President.

The constitution bars any leader removed from office through impeachment from vying for elective or appointive public office, a provision that continues to cast doubt over his bid.

Gachagua, however, insisted that he is firmly in the race.

"Mimi ndio kiboko yake," he said, in reference to Ruto.

Later in the day, tensions flared in Nyeri town ahead of Gachagua’s visit after rival groups clashed.

Gachagua claimed the violence was instigated by goons allegedly sent by his political rivals to disrupt his meeting.

President Ruto, speaking separately in Eldoret, dismissed Gachagua’s presidential ambitions, saying the former Deputy President lacked a tangible plan or manifesto to challenge him in 2027.

Ruto was responding to Gachagua’s recent remarks suggesting that the best schools in the central region should be reserved for students from the area.

“Around here, our children have been placed in small schools, yet their marks are high, while other people have been brought to our schools,” Gachagua had said.

On Thursday, Ruto addressed the issue during the Nyota Business Start-Up Capital Disbursement event, urging young people not to be influenced by politicians and emphasising the need to keep children out of political contests ahead of the 2027 election.

“How desperate can people be? Let our children be, let our children learn. Those children are Kenyans, wherever they come from, whatever community they belong to, they are our children — the children of Kenya,” Ruto said.

In an apparent counterattack, Gachagua later dismissed Ruto’s vision of turning Kenya into a “Singapore,” describing it as impractical and a diversion from the real issues affecting citizens.

“Let him not tell us about Singapore. Going forward, anytime he mentions Singapore, I want us to laugh at him,” Gachagua said.