NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said he would be willing to serve as Edwin Sifuna’s running mate if the Nairobi senator can demonstrate that he has the numbers needed to defeat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua, who is positioning himself as a key figure in the opposition camp, said personal ambitions should not prevent opposition leaders from supporting whichever candidate has the strongest chance of defeating Ruto.
Speaking to Kenyans in Spokane, Washington, Gachagua said opposition leaders should first establish who commands the strongest national support before deciding the presidential ticket.
“If we do our arithmetic and find that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna will send President William Ruto home early, so be it,” he said.
Gachagua then made his own position clear.
“And there is no problem, by the way, even I, Riggy G, can deputise Sifuna. There is nothing wrong with that,” he said.
Gachagua opens door to Sifuna ticket
The former Deputy President said the same principle could apply to other opposition leaders, including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
He suggested that the eventual opposition ticket could be built around whichever politician demonstrates the strongest ability to defeat Ruto, regardless of their current position in the political hierarchy.
“Even Sifuna can deputise me. Sifuna can also deputise Kalonzo Musyoka. Kalonzo can also deputise Sifuna,” Gachagua said.
He said opposition leaders should be willing to consider an unconventional combination of younger politicians and experienced figures if such an arrangement offered the best chance of winning the election.
“We will come up with a line-up and you will love it. We will blend youthful energy with experience,” he said, drawing cheers from the audience.
The remarks potentially broaden the field of possible opposition alliances ahead of 2027, although there is no indication that an opposition presidential ticket has been formally agreed.
Gachagua calls Sifuna a serious presidential contender
Gachagua also rejected the suggestion that he was merely being humorous when he mentioned Sifuna as a potential presidential candidate.
He described Sifuna, himself and Kalonzo as serious contenders for the presidency.
“Let me explain, we are very serious presidential aspirants and Sifuna is one of them,” Gachagua said.
“Riggy G here is a serious candidate, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka is a serious candidate, and we can give to anybody, including Sifuna.”
The comments elevate Sifuna into the same political conversation as more established opposition figures, even as the senator’s prospects of securing a broad national coalition remain a matter for future political negotiations.
Gachagua backs Sifuna against age criticism
Gachagua’s comments came shortly after Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli questioned whether Sifuna was sufficiently prepared to make a presidential bid in 2027.
Atwoli advised the Nairobi senator to wait, arguing that he needed to build a broader political network and strengthen his national profile before seeking the presidency.
Gachagua dismissed the argument, pointing to the ages at which some world leaders assumed the presidency.
He noted that Sifuna is 44 and cited former US President Barack Obama, who was 47 when elected, as well as former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who first became president at 42.
“I want to tell that Mzee, Sifuna is above 18 years, he is 44. Barack Obama was elected US President at 47. Roosevelt was elected President of the US at the age of 42,” Gachagua said.
“If at the age of 42 you can govern a country as large as the US, at 44 what is Kenya?”
Gachagua urged Sifuna to ignore calls to postpone his ambitions and instead test his popularity among voters.
“I have told my younger brother, do not be discouraged by anybody, go for it,” he said.
‘Numbers’ to determine opposition ticket
Gachagua said the opposition should be prepared to rally behind any candidate capable of demonstrating that they have the strongest chance of defeating Ruto.
That position leaves open the possibility of Gachagua stepping aside for either Sifuna or Kalonzo if they can demonstrate greater support across the country.
“If you persuade us that you are the best person to take Ruto home, we will rally behind you. There is no problem,” he said.
He gave a similar undertaking to Kalonzo, saying he would support the Wiper leader if he could convince opposition leaders that he was the strongest candidate.
“If Kalonzo convinces us, why not? I, Riggy G, can do it, why not?” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President’s position effectively makes electoral strength, rather than individual ambition, the proposed basis for selecting the opposition’s presidential candidate.
Opposition faces 2027 ticket challenge
Gachagua’s remarks come as opposition parties and political movements seek to establish alliances capable of challenging Ruto in 2027.
The central challenge for the opposition remains how to consolidate support behind a single presidential ticket while accommodating the ambitions of several potential candidates.
Gachagua, Kalonzo and Sifuna represent different political constituencies and generations, making any eventual alliance a complex exercise in balancing regional support, political experience and grassroots mobilisation.
Sifuna’s potential candidacy would also represent a generational shift within the opposition, given his age and relatively recent emergence as a prominent national political figure.
Gachagua’s willingness to serve as deputy to Sifuna, if the senator can demonstrate sufficient support, could therefore have significance beyond the two politicians themselves.
