NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua isn’t letting impeachment—or political snubs—slow him down.

In a bold Sunday night interview on Weru TV, Gachagua officially declared he will be on the ballot for Kenya’s 2027 presidential election, setting the stage for a crowded and highly competitive race.

Gachagua’s Legal Gamble: “I’m Still Eligible”

Facing questions about his eligibility following his 2024 impeachment, Gachagua was quick to set the record straight.

According to him, Kenyan law allows candidates to vie for office as long as their legal cases are unresolved and have not yet reached the Supreme Court.

“Before my case gets to the Supreme Court, I will vie for the presidential seat and I will win with very many votes,” he said confidently, pointing to examples like Sirisia MP John Waluke, who ran and won an election while his appeal was pending.

Gachagua emphasized, “The law says that if you have not exhausted the legal mechanisms, you are free to vie for any office. My case hasn’t even started yet.”

His remarks seem aimed at silencing critics and reenergizing his base, even as questions swirl around the pace and direction of his court proceedings.

Opposition Unity: A Crowded Field Grows More Complex

Gachagua’s announcement throws another heavyweight into an already packed ring. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa, PLP’s Martha Karua, and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i have all declared their own presidential ambitions.

Still, Gachagua insists that competition among allies is healthy—and temporary. “Everyone wants the presidential seat… and we will keep on campaigning. At the end, we will discuss and decide who will be,” he said.

He hinted at a collaborative “70+1” winning formula, where all opposition players will eventually rally behind the strongest contender. “We will release a joint statement, committing ourselves to the people of Kenya,” Gachagua promised, signaling a potential realignment of forces.

Rift with Uhuru: Old Wounds, New Battles

But not all doors are open to Gachagua. Recent reports suggest that a secretive meeting at former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Ichaweri residence purposely left Gachagua off the guest list.

Word on the street? Uhuru’s team is reportedly grooming Fred Matiang’i to be the Jubilee Party’s flagbearer—and Gachagua’s past criticism of Uhuru during and after the 2022 elections is proving hard to forgive.

Unfazed, Gachagua is moving ahead. Come May, he plans to launch his own political party, with former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi rumored to be lined up for a top leadership role.

It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that could either cement Gachagua’s role as a kingmaker—or isolate him further from key political networks ahead of 2027.

Final Word: Gachagua Bets Big on 2027

Rigathi Gachagua’s presidential run promises to be one of the most closely watched developments in Kenya’s political scene.

Betting on legal technicalities, opposition unity, and a fresh political vehicle, the former Deputy President is trying to defy odds—and past alliances—to carve a path to State House.

Will Gachagua’s gamble pay off? Or will the combined forces of old enemies and new rivals be too much to overcome? Either way, the race to 2027 just got a lot more interesting.