Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, February 26, hinted at challenging President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential election as he escalated his fight against his erstwhile ally.
Mr Gachagua suggested that challenging his impeachment in court had thrown him a political lifeline, arguing that as long as he still had an active case, he cannot be barred from running.
He cited the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases that were facing President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, which he said did not stop them from running in 2013.
“In 2013, William and Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta vied when they faced charges at the ICC. The Constitution of Kenya is very clear: Nothing stops you from running for political office because you have a court case which is not concluded. That is the law. As long as you have not exhausted the mechanisms available for remedy, nobody can stop you from vying for political office,” Mr Gachagua told a morning talk show broadcast across various Ukambani radio stations.
“A court case cannot stop anything. I remain a leader. Even with the ongoing case in court, I am pulling crowds at my Wamunyoro home. All Kenyans are trooping there daily because I am a leader. There is nothing a court case can stop. This case cannot stop Kenya. I am not the only Kenyan who can contest. I do not have to lead Kenya but I command a lot of political influence with or without a court case.”
In the 2013 case challenging the candidature of Mr Kenyatta and Dr Ruto, High Court judge Msagha Mbogholi ruled that only the Supreme Court could make a determination of the suitability of anyone for the presidential job.
“We were urged to make a declaration whose ultimate aim will result in the determination of a question whether the third and fourth respondents are qualified to offer their candidature to the office of the president or deputy president respectively. This is an issue which is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court,” ruled Judge Mbogholi then.
“The Constitution of Kenya places all the sovereign power on the people of Kenya which shall be exercised only in accordance with the Constitution. Limiting the people’s rights would be inimical to the exercise of democratic rights and freedom of its members.”
Mr Gachagua challenged the impeachment in court, arguing that the allegations against him were founded on falsehoods and outright lies.
The former Deputy President said the motion to impeach him was entirely founded on deceit, misrepresentations, and suppression of material facts, which had been peddled to the public to achieve an improper and unconstitutional purpose.
It is also his argument that the one-day public participation process which was initiated by Parliament was not enough to ‘overturn the sovereign will of the people’ who voted for him and President William Ruto in the last general election.
Mr Gachagua revealed that he had already formed a popular national political party which he said he would unveil after the formation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“Some United Democratic Alliance MPs in the Mount Kenya region want to resign and go for a by-election in the new party,” he said, adding that impeachment initiated by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse had significantly boosted his political clout and influence.
The show was meant to rally the Kamba community behind a proposed broad-based political alliance which Mr Gachagua believes will make President Ruto a one-term president.
He said former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Alliance Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, People’s Liberation Party Martha Karua, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i were part of the proposed alliance.
He said the parties to the new alliance had not yet settled on who would fly its presidential flag into the 2027 General Election, and they were focused on building a formidable force as he welcomed Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga to join the mission.
“Kenyans have decided to send President Ruto home. They are determined. What they want to know are the measures we have put in place as leaders to ensure that the new leadership will serve Kenyans, reduce the cost of living, respect Kenyans, develop the country, and ensure that the country’s healthcare system is working. That is our responsibility,” he said.
Mr Gachagua hailed the Wiper leader as a patriot with the interests of Kenyans at heart and a firm leadership style.
“Mr Musyoka convinced Wiper MPs to reject the Finance Bill 2024 which Kenyans had issues with. That earned him a lot of respect across the country. The day President Ruto decided to embarrass me and my community through impeachment, Wiper senators Agnes Kavindu (Machakos), Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), and Enoch Wambua (Kitui) came to my rescue. That has contributed to our friendship. We do not take that for granted. We are very grateful,” he said.
When challenged to explain a statement he made in the run-up to the 2022 General Election to the effect that the Kamba community’s 1.5 million registered voters were insignificant in a presidential contest, Mr Gachagua stood by the statement.
He said it was not meant to undermine the community as he urged it to grow its votes to at least four million ahead of the 2027 General Election to give Mr Musyoka a bargaining chip at the proposed alliance.
He revealed that the number of voters a voting bloc will bring to the table will be a key index in crafting the formula the opposition coalition will use in challenging President Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
“We shall deliver 10 million votes from the Mount Kenya voting bloc to the broad-based alliance we are building. We expect the Ukambani region to bring 4 million votes to the basket so that we can defeat President Ruto decisively. The Ukambani region should remain hopeful. Ukambani and the Mount Kenya regions will form the next government. We only need to grow the number of our voters and make new friends across the country,” he said.
Mr Gachagua used the radio talk show to take a swipe at President Ruto whom he accused of misrule and sidelining the Ukambani region in terms of development and state appointments. He accused President Ruto of sacking from plum state positions many of his key allies in the region and undermining the community.
“All the road projects which President Uhuru Kenyatta had initiated in the Ukambani region have since stalled. Thwake Dam has also stalled,” he said.
