Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says the Kamba community will be to blame if President William Ruto is re-elected in the 2027 General Election.
Addressing supporters of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at his rural home in Muuna Village, Kitui County, Mr Gachagua appeared to suggest that supporters of the former vice president were the weakest link in the opposition’s quest to make Dr Ruto a one-term president.
“Ukambani and Kambas all over the country should add four million votes into our basket. The rest of the votes are intact,” Mr Gachagua said Thursday as he called on the Kamba voting bloc to register as voters ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The Kamba community will be to blame if we lose the journey of sending President Ruto home,” the ex-DP added.
Mr Musyoka had organised the meeting to ward off President Ruto, who is expected to tour the region next month.
“Let us allow Kalonzo to be the one roaring in this region. Let us agree that he should be the only gateway to Ukambani,” Mr Gachagua said.
Mr Musyoka took on President Ruto’s allies in the region who attended a consultative forum on Ukambani development at the State House last week.
The forum saw President Ruto renew pledges for undertaking roads, water, housing and other infrastructure projects in the region.
“Shame on you, those who went to the State House to beg for roads. Development is the right of all Kenyans because we pay taxes,” Mr Musyoka said.
The Ukambani political kingpin also wanted to use the forum in his backyard to position himself as the opposition’s best bet to tackle President Ruto in the next General Election.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara and Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa came close to endorsing Mr Musyoka as the opposition's 2027 presidential candidate.
However, Mr Gachagua urged caution.
“Kenyans should not push us to announce an opposition flagbearer so that President Ruto does not erect barriers along the way. Give us time. There will be enough space for all of us. The most important thing is that we are committed to sending President Ruto home,” the former deputy president said.
The forum was also addressed by former Cabinet secretaries Justin Muturi, Peter Munya, and Mithika Linturi.
As the speakers took turns to slam President Ruto whom they accused of misrule, they stressed the need for unity among themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We shall not surrender. We shall not relent in making sure that Ruto is a one-term president. We shall form a coalition that mirrors that of 2002. We shall resist attempts to arrest Mr Gachagua. We shall kick them out of office if they arrest Mr Gachagua,” Mr Musyoka said.
“We should be ready to support the opposition presidential candidate who will be identified by this team so that we send President Ruto back to selling chicken,” Democratic Action Party deputy party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi said.
