Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has predicted that one opposition principal will walk away after a joint presidential candidate is selected to face President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking to Kenyans living in Dallas, United States, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader compared the current opposition realignment to the events of the 2002 General Election, when the opposition united behind former President Mwai Kibaki but one of the presidential contenders, Simeon Nyachae, declined to join the arrangement.
Gachagua said the current political developments reminded him of the events preceding the 2002 election, when leaders opposed to then President Daniel arap Moi sought to unite behind a single candidate.
“Just the way William Ruto’s people are talking, it is the same way Daniel arap Moi’s supporters talked in the 2002 elections,” Gachagua said.
He recalled a meeting at Uhuru Park where opposition leaders rallied behind Kibaki under the slogan “Kibaki Tosha”, signalling their decision to support him as the presidential candidate.
“At Uhuru Park, there was a meeting and it was declared ‘Kibaki Tosha’. There was one opposition presidential candidate and Simeon Nyachae walked away. Nyachae went alone,” he said.
Gachagua said he expected a similar development to unfold ahead of the 2027 election, as opposition leaders seek to agree on a single candidate to challenge Ruto.
“I want to prophesy today, not because I am a prophet but based on experience, foresight and understanding Kenyan politics, history will repeat itself,” he said.
“One presidential candidate will be announced, one person will go away. That one person will go away on his own.”
Gachagua, who has declared his interest in the 2027 presidential race, said he would remain within the opposition arrangement even if he was not selected as its presidential flagbearer.
“And the single presidential candidate will be elected by 75 per cent of the Kenyan vote,” he said.
“Riggy G will be part of the winning team. This is because Riggy G will not be that fellow who will walk away; he will stick with the arrangement that has been agreed upon by the people of Kenya.”
The DCP leader did not identify the opposition leader he expects to abandon the coalition, but his remarks come as several opposition principals position themselves for the 2027 presidential contest.
Gachagua has previously challenged opposition leaders seeking the presidential ticket to publicly commit to supporting whoever is eventually selected as the coalition's flagbearer.
He said such a commitment should apply even to leaders who fail to secure the ticket, arguing that opposition unity would depend on whether the principals were prepared to accept the outcome of the selection process.
“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.
Gachagua challenged his political colleagues to make a similar public commitment to Kenyans.
