Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has challenged opposition leaders to rein in their supporters making threats to back President William Ruto if their preferred candidate is not picked as the opposition's presidential flagbearer in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking to Kenyans living in Dallas in the United States, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader said such statements undermined efforts to build a united opposition capable of challenging Ruto in the next election.
He called on leaders seeking the opposition's presidential ticket to publicly commit to supporting whoever is agreed upon as the coalition's flagbearer, regardless of their individual ambitions.
“I also want to ask those who want to be president to tell their supporters to stop issuing some statements that if it is not so and so as the opposition presidential candidate, then we will vote for William Ruto,” he said.
Gachagua criticised supporters who insist that their preferred candidate must be the opposition's presidential nominee, warning that such positions raised questions about their commitment to a united opposition.
“That kind of talk is retrogressive, and you will never find anybody supporting me issuing such statements,” he said.
The DCP leader urged his colleagues to issue clear directions to their supporters and publicly declare their willingness to rally behind whoever emerges as the opposition's flagbearer.
He argued that those threatening to support Ruto if their preferred candidate is not selected were not genuinely committed to the idea of a single opposition presidential candidate.
Gachagua, who has declared his interest in the 2027 presidential race, said he was prepared to support another candidate if he failed to secure the opposition ticket.
“I may not talk for other people because people may let you down. I want to speak for myself and say that if it is not me, I will support whoever will be picked as the opposition flagbearer unconditionally,” he said.
He challenged other opposition leaders to make similar public commitments, saying their declarations would help build trust among supporters and demonstrate their determination to challenge Ruto as a united front.
“I have repeatedly challenged my brothers and sisters to also give a similar commitment publicly to the people of Kenya,” he said.
Gachagua said it was not enough for leaders to simply promise to support a joint candidate without explicitly stating that they would back another contender if they failed to secure the nomination.
“They should not just say we will rally behind one person, they should say that if it is not them, they will support the one who will be picked so that if you renege on the promise, Kenyans will hunt you down,” he said.
He added that some opposition leaders had yet to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the unity push, expressing doubts over whether all of them would honour an eventual agreement.
“All of us should give that commitment. Some are a little bit slippery, and that is why sometimes I have some little doubt,” he said.
