DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has said he is ready to deputise Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna in the 2027 presidential election if opposition arithmetic shows that the senator is best placed to defeat President William Ruto.
Gachagua said political leaders should remain open to different coalition arrangements as the opposition seeks to assemble a winning team ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Spokane, Washington, in the United States, during an engagement with Kenyans living in the diaspora, Gachagua said he would have no problem serving as Sifuna’s running mate if the political numbers pointed in that direction.
“If we do our arithmetic and find that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna will send President William Ruto home early, so be it,” Gachagua said.
“And there is no problem, by the way, even I, Riggy G, can deputise Sifuna. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Gachagua said the reverse could also happen, with Sifuna deputising him or other opposition leaders, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
“Even Sifuna can deputise me. Sifuna can also deputise Kalonzo Musyoka. Kalonzo can also deputise Sifuna,” he said.
“We will come up with a line-up and you will love it. We will blend youthful energy with experience.”
His remarks were met with applause and cheers from the audience.
Gachagua later sought to clarify that his comments were not merely political rhetoric, saying the opposition leaders involved were serious presidential contenders.
“Let me explain, we are very serious presidential aspirants and Sifuna is one of them,” he said.
“Riggy G here is a serious candidate, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka is a serious candidate, and we can give to anybody, including Sifuna.”
Gachagua's comments came hours after Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli questioned whether Sifuna was ready to pursue the presidency in 2027.
Atwoli had told Sifuna that his time to become president was not yet ripe, arguing that the Nairobi senator needed to build a political team and cover more ground before seeking the country's highest office.
Gachagua, however, rejected the argument that Sifuna was too young to become president.
“I saw that man, COTU-Kenya Secretary General Francis Atwoli, telling Sifuna that he is too young to be President and should therefore wait,” Gachagua said.
“I want to tell that Mzee, Sifuna is above 18 years, he is 44. Barack Obama was elected US President at 47. Roosevelt was elected President of the US at the age of 42. If at the age of 42 you can govern a country as large as the US, at 44 what is Kenya?”
Gachagua said Sifuna should not allow criticism from senior politicians to discourage him from pursuing his presidential ambitions.
“I have told my younger brother, do not be discouraged by anybody, go for it,” he said.
The former deputy president said the opposition should be prepared to support whichever candidate demonstrates the strongest ability to defeat Ruto.
“If you persuade us that you are the best person to take Ruto home, we will rally behind you. There is no problem,” he said.
Gachagua similarly left the door open to supporting Kalonzo Musyoka if the Wiper leader convinces the opposition that he is best positioned to win the presidency.
“If Kalonzo convinces us, why not? I, Riggy G, can do it, why not?” he said.
