Gachagua: We will name opposition candidate to face Ruto in December 2026
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (confers) with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at ACK St Stephen’s Cathedral in Nairobi on March 16, 2025.
Kenyans will wait for more than a year to know the opposition presidential candidate to tackle President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential race, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.
Speaking during a funeral in Machakos County on Tuesday, April 15, Mr Gachagua dismissed talk of emerging cracks in the opposition.
He accused President William Ruto of plotting to scuttle the opposition by sowing discord among its luminaries ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He, however, exuded confidence that the opposition would remain united and focused on sending President Ruto home.
“We have listened to Kenyans say that we should sit and plan how to deliver a new, good government. We are doing that. Kalonzo, Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya, Fred Matiang’i and Riggy G who is at the centre of the talks. I want to assure the people of Kenya that we have a formula to give you good leadership. They are trying to drive a wedge between us so that we can go different ways but we are not fools. We shall remain united,” he said.
The former deputy president was addressing mourners during the burial of Reverend Joseph Nzola who was a pastor at the Jesus Celebration Centre at Katelembo in Machakos County.
“Kenyans should know that we are patriotic and as such we shall do the right thing. We shall put our selfish interests aside for the sake of this country. We shall delay the unveiling of our power sharing formula until December 2026. When we make the revelation earlier, they will interfere with us,” Mr Gachagua added as he led mourners in accusing Dr Ruto of misrule.
Mr Gachagua’s remarks came against the backdrop of talk that the opposition was pulling towards different directions.
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni fuelled the talk recently after announcing that the party had thrown its weight behind Mr Matiang’i presidential ambition.
2027 dream
A section of Mr Matiang’i’s allies have since called on Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to rethink his 2027 presidential dream, and instead endorse Mr Matiang’i.
Mr Musyoka has given the issue a wide berth.
He avoided it at Reverend Nzola’s funeral.
Citing a recent incident in which goons stormed a Nairobi church attended by Mr Gachagua, Mr Musyoka instead accused President Ruto of intimidating the opposition.
“Being impeached does not mean you should stop going to church. What happened at a PCEA church in Mwiki could have translated to death. Stop the intimidation,” he said.
He called on the church to back up the opposition in calling out President Ruto whom he has accused of misrule.
“Let us not leave it to Mr Gachagua to be the truthful man. The church should stand for the truth. You are the salt of the world,” the former vice president told a number of evangelical pastors in attendance.
Mr Wamalwa, who is the Democratic Action Party leader, waded into the current stalemate over the National Government Constituency Development Fund.
He took a swipe at Azimio leader Raila Odinga who has called on MPs to surrender money meant for developing counties as he called on President Ruto to support devolution.
“The standoff between MPs and governors is completely unnecessary. National Government Constituency Development Fund is working. What is working does not need fixing. Devolution is working. Give the counties more money. MPs do not stop resources from coming to develop counties,” he said.
Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo accused the national government of stifling devolution by holding onto some of the devolved functions as Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi accused President Ruto’s administration of attempting to muzzle the media.
“Agriculture, health, roads and water, which are some of the devolved functions, are still hanging in the national government. We want the constitution to be followed,” Mr Maanzo said.