NAIROBI, Kenya – ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has declared that the Mt Kenya region holds the key to ending President William Ruto’s tenure at one term, arguing that a split in the vote-rich bloc could dramatically tilt the 2027 presidential race in the opposition’s favour.
Speaking on Citizen TV Tuesday night, Sifuna dismissed the political viability of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying his impeachment disqualifies him from holding any future public office.
“Former DP Gachagua is impeached; he cannot run,” said the Nairobi Senator. “I don’t understand why people still see him as a candidate. The Constitution is clear — once impeached, you’re barred from seeking elective office.”
Sifuna’s comments come amid growing speculation over Gachagua’s political future after he publicly declared interest in the presidency during a recent tour of the United States.
Gachagua’s Role in ODM’s 2027 Strategy
Sifuna, however, views Gachagua’s presence on the political scene as a strategic advantage for the opposition, suggesting that any rift he causes within Ruto’s Mt Kenya support base only strengthens ODM’s path to State House.
“The value proposition for Gachagua, from where I sit, is that he is peeling off votes that went to Ruto in 2022,” Sifuna noted. “If Raila Odinga were to receive the same number of votes he got in 2022 and William Ruto loses Mt Kenya, Raila will be the President. That’s how I see it.”
Gachagua Responds: I’m Still in the Race — Unless Unity Demands Otherwise
In remarks made earlier during his U.S. tour, Gachagua maintained he remains a front-runner for the 2027 presidential race but expressed willingness to step aside if the opposition coalesces around a different candidate.
“I believe I have the best chance to become Kenya’s sixth President,” Gachagua said. “But if the united opposition picks someone else as the best person to send Ruto home, I will sacrifice my ambition and offer my full support.”
UDA’s Malala: Gachagua Still Eligible to Run
However, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala pushed back against Sifuna’s assertion, saying Gachagua is still legally eligible to run for any office.
“As it stands, Rigathi Gachagua qualifies to vie for any position,” Malala said. “The impeachment is still being contested in court. Until he has exhausted all appeal mechanisms, he enjoys full rights under the law.”
