MARLBOROUGH, United States — Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua says the opposition would only turn to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as an elder statesman if its leaders struggle to agree on a common presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a town hall engagement in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday, October 3, Gachagua dismissed claims that the opposition is being financially supported by the former president.
Gachagua challenged President William Ruto to provide evidence for repeated claims that Uhuru is sponsoring opposition activities.
“I have never seen a single shilling from Uhuru Kenyatta,” Gachagua said, adding that opposition leaders do not require financial sponsorship from the retired president.
He also urged Ruto to stop portraying Uhuru as his political opponent, arguing that the former president is retired and will not be on the ballot in 2027.
“We have told President William Ruto, please stop attacking former president Uhuru Kenyatta. And he has said he’s not your competitor. Uhuru Kenyatta will not be on the ballot. He’s retired,” Gachagua said.
Uhuru’s Possible Role
While ruling out a financial or operational role for Uhuru in the opposition campaign, Gachagua identified one circumstance in which the former president could be called upon.
He said Uhuru could be asked to help resolve disagreements among opposition leaders if they fail to reach consensus over their political strategy.
“The only role I will request Uhuru Kenyatta to play at the right time, as my older brother, as our kinsman, is that if we are having challenges when we are talking among ourselves and we need an elder to guide us so that we do not fight each other very much, we will call him as an elder to lead us,” he said.
Gachagua’s remarks are consistent with his earlier public position that Uhuru should largely remain outside active opposition politics while remaining available for consultations when necessary.
Opposition Unity Still Unresolved
The question of who will lead a united opposition into the 2027 election remains unresolved, with several politicians having expressed presidential ambitions.
The opposition camp includes Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, Jubilee’s Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Opposition leaders have repeatedly spoken about the need to agree on a common candidate, but differences over coalition structures and leadership remain.
Gachagua said the opposition was capable of mounting a campaign without relying on financial inducements.
“This election, we don’t need money. The money we need is very little for food and fuel. Our voters don’t need to be bribed. And this was demonstrated in Ol Kalou,” he said.
