EX-DP Rigathi Gachagua and Embakasi East MP Babu Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to be patient over the selection of an opposition presidential flagbearer.
Speaking in the United States on Saturday, Gachagua maintained that there is still sufficient time for opposition parties to settle on a candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The ex-DP cautioned the opposition against rushing to choose its joint presidential candidate, arguing that the process could be concluded closer to the election without undermining its chances.
He was responding to remarks by the legislator, who had warned that opposition parties risk losing the 2027 election if they delay efforts to unite.
“I heard my younger brother Babu Owino saying, we must choose somebody today; if we don't, we are in trouble,” Gachagua remarked.
The former Deputy President said he had spoken to Babu and advised him against pushing for an immediate decision on the opposition's flagbearer.
“I called Babu this morning; I said, young man, listen to us, we have been around for long. It's not the time to get a flagbearer,” he revealed.
Babu had earlier argued that opposition parties should unite as soon as possible instead of waiting to announce the decision in future.
“This thing where opposition is saying they want to unite in December or next year, they will lose elections,” the Linda Mwananchi leader cautioned.
He further warned that delaying the process could result in individual politicians pursuing separate presidential or other elective ambitions.
Babu further cautioned that the opposition could face a difficult election if the Kenya Kwanza administration, alongside the broad-based arrangement, settled on a single candidate before opposition parties agreed on their own candidate.
“If they (broad-based government) decide on one candidate and say it's this one and they start campaigning, how will things look? Without unity of opposition, we will face a difficult time. By December everyone will be looking for their own seats,” he said.
Gachagua, however, sought to reassure opposition supporters that there was no need to make an immediate decision.
He cited the late President Mwai Kibaki's experience in 2002, when opposition parties agreed on a single presidential candidate relatively close to the election.
“I told Babu, Mwai Kibaki was agreed on as a single presidential candidate on 14th of October, 2002, when the elections were 27th of December, the same year. Two months, 13 days apart. 73 days only,” Gachagua said.
He argued that the opposition currently has considerably more time to negotiate and agree on a candidate.
“We have 300 days. What's the problem? There is no issue. Let's go patient,” he said.
The DCP leader maintained that efforts to divide the opposition would not succeed, as political leaders continue to explore ways of working together ahead of the 2027 polls.
