NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to defend his right to contest the presidency in 2027, dismissing suggestions that he should step aside and help another opposition candidate challenge President William Ruto.
Gachagua said his ongoing legal battle over his impeachment does not, in his view, prevent him from seeking the presidency, arguing that he has not exhausted all available avenues of appeal.
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader also rejected the increasingly common description of him as a political “kingmaker” within the opposition.
“I am running for the presidency. I am not a kingmaker; I am KING. I will not endorse anyone,” Gachagua said.
He said he was offering himself as a presidential candidate rather than positioning himself to determine which of his political allies should carry the opposition ticket.
Gachagua’s position comes as opposition parties and leaders continue efforts to build a united front ahead of the 2027 election, with several prominent politicians positioning themselves for the presidency.
The former deputy president has, however, previously indicated that opposition leaders may ultimately have to settle on a single candidate to take on Ruto.
In July, Gachagua said he was willing to support another candidate in the interest of defeating Ruto, but maintained that this did not take away his right to seek the presidency himself.
“I am willing to sacrifice anything, including my presidential ambition, to make sure William Ruto is one term,” he said at the time. “I am willing to support anybody else. But that doesn’t mean that I have no right also to want to carry the flag.”
On Monday, however, Gachagua struck a more definitive tone, insisting that he was preparing to contest the election himself.
He also dismissed claims that his political campaign against Ruto was driven by bitterness following his removal from office.
“I am not mobilising Kenyans to remove Ruto as president because of bitterness or vengeance,” Gachagua said, arguing that his political activities were motivated by what he described as patriotism and a desire to offer Kenyans alternative leadership.
Gachagua challenges eligibility claims
The former deputy president has repeatedly faced questions over whether his impeachment could affect his eligibility to contest for elective office.
Gachagua has argued that his constitutional rights remain intact because his legal challenges have not been exhausted.
“As far as I know, I am a presidential candidate; I have not been barred from running because Article 99(3) says nobody can be barred from running for office until you exhaust all the legal remedies available by the law,” he said in an interview last month.
He said two avenues remained available to him — the Court of Appeal and, subsequently, the Supreme Court.
Gachagua was impeached in October 2024 after the Senate upheld charges against him, ending his tenure as deputy president. Kithure Kindiki subsequently succeeded him.
The former deputy president has since emerged as one of the administration’s most vocal critics and has built a political movement around challenging Ruto in 2027.
