Nairobi, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has officially thrown his hat into the 2027 presidential race, setting up what could be one of Kenya’s most consequential political battles in recent memory.
Gachagua made the announcement while touring the Mt. Kenya region, sharply criticizing President William Ruto’s leadership and accusing him of fostering corruption through State House meetings.
Gachagua’s Bold Announcement
Speaking on the day President Ruto marked three years in office, Gachagua said the time had come for change. Addressing roadside crowds across Mt. Kenya, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader declared that his mission was to liberate the country from what he called a corrupt system.
“We shall liberate Kenya, no matter what. The year 2027 is the time; I am firmly in the presidential race for a better Kenya where every citizen participates in governance,” he later wrote on X.
His allies echoed his sentiments, telling residents that Gachagua was the opposition’s strongest candidate to unseat Ruto. DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala put it bluntly: “Within the opposition, the only one who can remove Ruto is Gachagua.”
Allegations Against State House
Central to Gachagua’s campaign launch were allegations that State House delegations were being used to buy loyalty. He accused the President of misusing taxpayers’ money to woo Mt. Kenya leaders.
“Yesterday he called people from Murang’a, gave them Ksh. 5,000 each to support Kasongo. Can that really be leadership?” Gachagua asked a cheering crowd.
He went further, warning Ruto that Mt. Kenya voters would not be swayed by handouts: “You lied to the people of Murang’a that Kikuyus love money. Let me tell you, in Murang’a you won’t get even a single vote.”
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu backed the remarks, saying those who attended recent State House meetings were already disillusioned. “Everyone there was a Gachagua supporter. They were clear: one term.”
Opposition Strategy Takes Shape
The former deputy president also accused Ruto of using proxies in the Mt. Kenya region to register satellite political parties, aimed at dividing the vote ahead of 2027. “He has told young people in Murang’a to create a party just to weaken us. We know the game—it’s still his wheelbarrow politics,” Gachagua claimed.
Other Mt. Kenya leaders chimed in with criticism of State House. Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango likened the institution to a “new restaurant” where politicians go for cash handouts, while Woman Representative Njeri Maina said: “They are stealing your money. Take it when offered, but when it comes to voting, show them the door.”
A Political Battle Lines Up
With his announcement, Gachagua has positioned himself as a leading opposition challenger ahead of the 2027 General Election. His candidacy sets the stage for a fierce battle within Mt. Kenya, a region long viewed as a decisive voting bloc.
Whether his campaign resonates nationally remains to be seen, but Gachagua’s sharp attacks on President Ruto signal that Kenya’s road to 2027 will be anything but quiet.
