NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced plans to retreat to his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County for 45 days to conduct consultations aimed at forging opposition unity ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The announcement comes a day after the High Court delivered its judgment on petitions challenging his October 2024 impeachment, a ruling that Gachagua has already vowed to challenge at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking on Tuesday, Gachagua said the consultations would focus on developing a consensus formula for identifying a single opposition presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the next election.
“From Monday, I will camp in Wamunyoro village for 45 days to start exhaustive and extensive consultations with my supporters, opinion leaders and stakeholders on the formula of identifying a single presidential candidate to face President William Ruto,” he said.
The former Deputy President indicated that opposition unity had emerged as a central issue during discussions with his political advisers following the court ruling.
According to Gachagua, a 60-member caucus comprising elders and professionals that advises him on political, social, and economic matters held a virtual meeting after the judgment and urged him to prioritise efforts to unite opposition forces.
“They have tasked me to engage in what, in their view, is of utmost priority: the identification of a single presidential candidate to face President William Ruto,” he said.
Gachagua maintained that presenting one candidate against the incumbent was the only viable path for the opposition to secure victory in 2027.
“They have instructed me that having a single presidential candidate against President William Ruto is not negotiable and is the only way to liberate this country,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing debate within opposition circles over how a joint candidate should be selected. Leaders, including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, and other opposition figures have all been linked to ongoing coalition discussions.
Gachagua’s planned consultations are expected to draw political leaders, grassroots supporters, religious leaders, professionals, and regional opinion shapers as opposition parties intensify preparations for the 2027 contest.
The former Deputy President has consistently argued that opposition fragmentation has historically benefited incumbents and has repeatedly called for a united front against President Ruto.
His Wamunyoro consultations are likely to shape discussions on coalition formation, power-sharing arrangements and the criteria for selecting a presidential candidate as opposition leaders seek to build a formidable challenge ahead of the next general election.
The move also signals that, despite the legal battles surrounding his impeachment, Gachagua intends to remain an influential figure in opposition politics and play a central role in determining the coalition’s strategy for 2027.