Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged President William Ruto to stop attempting to woo Opposition leaders, insisting that they have agreed to remain united ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking during a church service at AIC Bathi in Kimende, Kiambu County, on Sunday, November 15, Gachagua claimed that leaders from different Opposition parties had reached an understanding to rally behind a single presidential candidate to challenge Ruto.
Gachagua cited several Opposition leaders who he claimed had ruled out joining Ruto's camp, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang'i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua. He stated that these leaders had individually pledged to work together and reject any attempts by Ruto to woo them.
According to Gachagua, he had personally reached out to several leaders to establish their position on the proposed Opposition unity arrangement. He claimed that all the leaders he had met had committed to unity and agreed that once they settled on a joint presidential candidate, none of them would join Ruto's political camp.
Gachagua also pledged to play a central role in bringing together Opposition leaders and facilitating the selection of a single candidate to challenge Ruto in the 2027 presidential election. He expressed confidence that the ongoing negotiations would begin yielding visible progress before Christmas, promising to prevent divisions within the political camp.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader rejected findings of a recent opinion poll that identified him as the politician most frequently blamed for disagreements within the Opposition. A survey by TIFA Research and Consulting released on November 12 found that 43 per cent of Opposition supporters identified Gachagua as the person most responsible for divisions among Opposition leaders.
Gachagua dismissed the findings as misleading, maintaining that he was instead leading efforts to bring different political camps together. He stated that he would continue engaging leaders from different political parties to secure an agreement on a common presidential candidate, insisting that internal disagreements would not derail their efforts to mount a united challenge against Ruto in 2027.
The developments come as political leaders across the country intensify consultations and positioning ahead of the next General Election, with the question of who will carry the Opposition's presidential flag remaining a major issue. Gachagua's remarks reflect the ongoing efforts by Opposition leaders to present a united front against Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
Key points
- Gachagua claims Opposition leaders have agreed to remain united and reject Ruto's attempts to woo them.
- Gachagua pledges to play a central role in selecting a joint Opposition candidate.
- Gachagua dismisses poll findings that he is responsible for divisions within the Opposition.
