NAIROBI, Kenya – Opposition leaders seeking to unite behind one presidential candidate in 2027 have been put on notice by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, who says Mt Kenya will no longer give away its votes without first negotiating what the region stands to gain.
Gachagua told opposition figures seeking the region’s support that they must engage in discussions and establish clear political commitments before expecting Mt Kenya voters to back their preferred candidate.
His message introduces another layer of negotiations into the opposition’s efforts to assemble a joint presidential campaign against President William Ruto.
Speaking on Saturday, November 7, during the Ngemi Cia Watho cultural gathering in Thika, Gachagua told Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna that the region had made a political mistake in the 2022 General Election by supporting Ruto without first negotiating an agreement on its interests.
“Lawyer Sifuna, I have said we here at the Mountain, we gave our votes freely. We just voted like that…without thinking or having talks,” he said.
“This time, this time…to get the Mountain votes, there must be talks,” Gachagua added.
The DCP leader said the region would carefully examine the political partners seeking its backing rather than automatically committing its electoral support.
Opposition unity faces another negotiation test
Gachagua’s remarks come as opposition leaders pursue consultations aimed at settling on a single presidential candidate to challenge Ruto in the August 2027 General Election.
The emerging opposition alignment brings together Gachagua, Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Jubilee’s Fred Matiang’i, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, Democratic Action Party-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa and Sifuna, who leads the Linda Mwananchi movement.
However, the search for a common candidate remains unresolved, with the leaders still having to navigate competing political ambitions and disagreements over the presidential ticket.
Recent consultations between Gachagua and Kalonzo have highlighted differences over when the coalition should settle on its flagbearer, with the question of how to accommodate the interests of different political blocs remaining central to the discussions.
Gachagua’s latest position suggests that agreeing on a single candidate may not, on its own, be enough to secure the backing of the Mt Kenya electorate.
The region’s leaders also want discussions on the political and development commitments that would accompany any electoral partnership.
A different approach after the 2022 election
In 2022, Gachagua played a prominent role in mobilising Mt Kenya voters behind the Kenya Kwanza presidential ticket led by Ruto.
The region’s support was an important part of the coalition’s campaign, which secured victory against the Azimio la Umoja ticket led by Raila Odinga.
Gachagua, who became Deputy President after the election, is now positioning the region’s electoral support as something that should be negotiated rather than offered without conditions.
His remarks reflect a broader debate over how regional voting blocs should translate their electoral influence into political representation, government participation and development commitments.
Gachagua urges lawyers to participate in party primaries
Beyond coalition negotiations, Gachagua called on lawyers from the Mt Kenya region to take an active role in upcoming political party primaries.
His appeal points to the importance of internal party nomination processes in determining who will represent the region in elective positions ahead of the next General Election.
The call also comes as political parties and emerging alliances begin positioning themselves for the nomination battles that will precede the 2027 polls.
