NAIROBI, Kenya- DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has played down calls for the opposition to quickly settle on a single presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election, saying there is still ample time to make the decision.
Gachagua cited the 2002 election, when opposition parties settled on Mwai Kibaki as their joint presidential candidate on October 14, just over two months before the December 27 election.
“We have a whole year; what is the hurry?” Gachagua said, arguing that the opposition could agree on its candidate around March or April next year.
He said he was encouraged by political activities in Western Kenya, singling out former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale for what he described as good work in mobilising the region.
Gachagua said opposition leaders should be able to agree on a single candidate after Christmas.
“Choosing a single presidential candidate is the easiest of all the challenges that we have ahead of us,” he said.
“The real job is political mobilisation against Ruto.”
The former deputy president said his political strategy was based on bringing together Kenya’s regional voting blocs ahead of the 2027 contest.
“I have told everybody that the politics of Kenya revolves around regional blocs,” he said, listing the Mt Kenya region, Nairobi and the Maa community among areas where he has been mobilising.
He added that he was also working to win support among the Kipsigis community, claiming that the strategy was gaining traction.
Gachagua further accused President William Ruto’s administration of failing to adequately address political violence and alleged the involvement of senior government officials in organising and financing goons.
He called on Ruto to dismiss Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo if the President was serious about tackling the problem.
“If you’re serious about dealing with goons, you must sack Murkomen and Raymond Omollo,” Gachagua said, alleging that the two were involved in planning and financing goons.
Gachagua also challenged Ruto to demonstrate that he was genuinely committed to dealing with political violence after the President said he would personally take responsibility for addressing the issue.
He said failure to act would raise questions about whether the President was behind the alleged violence.
Gachagua’s remarks come as opposition and political groupings continue positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with questions over whether the emerging alliances will eventually settle on one presidential candidate.
The DCP leader also announced that he would take a 10-day break from political activities, saying he needed time to rest and spend time with his wife.
“I’m taking a 10-day break because I have been working very hard without taking time to rest,” he said, adding that he wanted to “re-energize and spend some quality time with my wife.”
