WASHINGTON, US — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a fresh attack on President William Ruto, dismissing arguments that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta remains responsible for the political challenges facing the Kenya Kwanza administration.
In a strongly worded post on X, Gachagua said Ruto should stop portraying Uhuru as his political opponent and instead focus on the grievances of Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua argued that Ruto’s election in 2022 was not the result of Uhuru’s inability to defeat him, saying the former president had failed to convince him and other Kenyans that Ruto would perform poorly in office.
Gachagua Says Uhuru Is Not Ruto’s Opponent
Gachagua said Ruto’s continued references to Uhuru’s political influence amounted to a distraction from the issues facing the country.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta is not your opponent in this election. You are just trying a bad deflection,” Gachagua said.
He argued that Uhuru had already played his role in the 2022 election and that the former president should not be treated as the central figure in the 2027 contest.
Gachagua’s remarks come amid an increasingly competitive opposition landscape as political parties and leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Recent reporting has described an evolving contest for influence in the Mount Kenya region involving Gachagua, Ruto, Uhuru and other political figures.
Gachagua Accuses Ruto of Failing Kenyans
Gachagua then shifted his attack from Uhuru to what he described as the grievances of ordinary Kenyans.
He accused the administration of imposing financial pressure on workers, failing to provide adequate healthcare and education services, and presiding over a high cost of living.
He also alleged that members of Generation Z had been abducted and killed, churches had been targeted and businesses had struggled under the current administration.
Gachagua presented those allegations as the issues he said would define the 2027 political contest.
’55 Million Kenyans Are Your Opponents’
In one of the strongest passages of his statement, Gachagua said Ruto should regard the electorate rather than Uhuru as his political opponent.
“55 million Kenyans are your opponents,” he said.
He also accused the President of facing widespread dissatisfaction, making a reference to his political standing among young people and other sections of the population.
The remarks form part of Gachagua’s broader criticism of the Ruto administration since his removal from the deputy presidency in October 2024.
Gachagua has since emerged as a prominent opposition figure and has been using his political engagements, including his current US tour, to discuss the 2027 election and opposition strategy.
Gachagua Invokes Ol Kalou By-Election
Gachagua also cited the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election as an indication of what he expects in the 2027 General Election.
He claimed the vote was a “dress rehearsal” for the national election and alleged that the government had used money and other political tactics during the contest.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which is led by Gachagua, won the Ol Kalou seat in the July by-election. The DCP candidate secured 35,440 votes against 5,450 for the UDA candidate, according to results reported after the poll.
Gachagua said voters could accept money offered during campaigns but still make their own decisions at the ballot.
His comments echo earlier remarks in which he described the Ol Kalou election as a model for protecting votes ahead of 2027.
Opposition Candidate Yet to Be Identified
Gachagua said opposition leaders had already been given what he described as a mandate by Kenyans to remove Ruto from office in the 2027 election.
He, however, acknowledged that the opposition has not yet settled on a single presidential candidate.
“The only one matter that is outstanding to complete the picture: the identification of a single presidential candidate,” he said.
Gachagua said consultations were continuing and claimed the opposition would soon announce the person who would face Ruto.
The question of an opposition flagbearer remains a subject of political negotiations among several parties and leaders.
Gachagua recently cautioned opposition figures against naming their presidential candidate too early, arguing that an early announcement could give the government an opportunity to interfere with opposition arrangements.
Gachagua Tells Ruto to Prepare for Handover
Gachagua ended his statement by directly challenging Ruto to prepare for a possible change of government after the 2027 election.
He told the President to appoint a team to begin preparing handover notes, while alleging that the administration was spending money to attract crowds at political events.
“Your fate is sealed,” Gachagua said, ending his post with the Italian phrase, “Il tuo destino è segnato!”
Ruto and Gachagua were elected on the same Kenya Kwanza ticket in 2022 before their relationship deteriorated and Gachagua was impeached and removed from office in October 2024. Gachagua has since positioned himself as an opposition figure ahead of the next General Election.
