By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, January 12, 2026 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declared that he remains the leading contender to carry the United Opposition’s presidential ticket in 2027, saying he is best placed to defeat President William Ruto at the ballot.
Speaking during an interview on a local Kikuyu television station on Monday, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader said he has already expressed interest in the presidency but insisted that the final decision rests with principals of the United Opposition.
“I have expressed interest to contest for the presidential seat, but I am not saying that it is a must that I be selected,” Gachagua said. “If another principal is selected, I will support him or her.” However, he maintained that all indicators point to him as the coalition’s strongest candidate.
“As at now, when we put all the calculations on the table, I am leading as the favourite leader to contest within the United Opposition,” he said. “Even in terms of campaign strategy, I am leading. Even in terms of sourcing for funds to run a presidential campaign, I am leading. The fact that I know William Ruto very well and I am the ideal person to floor him in the ballot, I am still leading.”
Gachagua said he will seek to convince fellow opposition leaders that he should be their flagbearer, but pledged to respect whatever decision is reached.
“I will convince my fellow party principals under the United Opposition on why I am the ideal person to contest against Ruto. If they agree, I will win the presidential election very early in the morning. If they reject my proposal and front another person, I will agree,” he said.
He added that it was too early for the Opposition to unveil its presidential candidate, saying parties should first focus on building their grassroots support.
“It is too early for us as the United Opposition to unveil our presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election,” he said. “It is time for all political parties under the United Opposition to continue to sell and strengthen their party agenda to the citizens and scout for votes as we head towards the polls.”
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Gachagua insisted the Opposition remains united. “The Opposition is united more than ever before and it will never be divided,” he said. He also launched a fierce attack on President Ruto, accusing him of using State machinery to intimidate and disrupt his political activities.
“William Ruto kicked me out of the government and I accepted,” he said. “When he parted ways with his then boss Uhuru Kenyatta in the last regime, Uhuru did not send criminals to terrorize him. But I have many times been sent criminals to disrupt events that I have been attending.”
Gachagua alleged that police and hired goons had been deployed against him and his supporters, even in churches. “Ruto, in partnership with a section of MPs from Mt Kenya region, has been sending criminals and police to channel excessive force on not only me and my supporters, but also on innocent church congregants,” he said. “We have even reached a point where police officers and armed goons are storming into churches with an intention of muzzling me.”
He claimed President Ruto is deliberately trying to fragment the vote-rich Mt Kenya region to secure re-election. “Ruto’s aim is to divide the Mt Kenya region into three segments so as to get himself a re-election in 2027. If he succeeds, he will sail through,” Gachagua said, drawing parallels with the 1992 General Election when a divided opposition handed former President Daniel Moi victory.
He said efforts to split Mt Kenya along regional and county lines had failed. “You have seen a section of Mt Kenya East leaders driving a narrative that they should be demarcated from Mt Kenya West, but residents at the grassroots have refused to buy that narrative,” he said. “He has also tried to marshal his MPs from Kiambu to spread a narrative that Kiambu should be demarcated from the rest of Mt Kenya, but Kiambu people refused to buy it.”
Gachagua said his role is to keep the region united, something he believes has made him a target. “That is where I come in, telling our people not to allow that divisive politics,” he said. “Ruto knows that our people love and listen to me. He knows if I speak to them, the region will remain intact and united. That is why you are seeing all these harassments.”
He maintained that despite the alleged intimidation, the Mt Kenya region remains firmly united against President Ruto. “Ruto and his team are very late on their mission because the region is firmly united and will never be divided,” he said.
