Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has indicated that talks on identifying a single presidential candidate for the opposition could gain momentum after the Christmas period, even as he urged opposition leaders to focus their efforts on political mobilization ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday night at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) shortly before departing for the United States, where he is expected to meet Kenyans living abroad, Gachagua said settling on a joint presidential candidate would be among the easiest challenges facing the opposition as it prepares to challenge President William Ruto.
He argued that the more important task at the moment should be strengthening political mobilization, convincing more Kenyans to register as voters and encouraging them to turn out in large numbers during the 2027 election.
According to Gachagua, the opposition should concentrate on building a strong political movement capable of persuading voters to support a change of government and elect a leadership that is accountable to the people.
The former Deputy President urged Kenyans to remain patient over the question of who will lead the opposition into the 2027 presidential contest, citing the 2002 General Election as an example of how political coalitions can settle on their presidential candidate relatively close to an election.
He recalled that Mwai Kibaki was selected as the opposition’s presidential candidate on October 14, 2002, only about two months before the December 27 election, arguing that the opposition still has sufficient time to agree on its preferred candidate.
Gachagua suggested that negotiations could gain momentum after Christmas, with the process of identifying and settling on a joint presidential candidate potentially being concluded around March or April next year.
He also expressed confidence in the political activities taking place in Western Kenya, where several opposition figures have been seeking to strengthen their political networks and build support ahead of the 2027 elections.
Although Gachagua has repeatedly positioned himself as a potential presidential candidate and maintains that he is best suited to lead the opposition, he said he would support whoever is eventually agreed upon by opposition leaders if they settle on a different candidate.
His remarks come amid growing debate over whether Kenya’s opposition can maintain unity and overcome competing political ambitions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Several prominent politicians have either declared their interest in the presidency or are being mentioned as potential candidates, including Gachagua, former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and former Chief Justice David Maraga.
Gachagua’s presidential ambitions are also being watched against the backdrop of his ongoing legal battle over his removal from the office of Deputy President. He has appealed a High Court decision that upheld his impeachment, with the outcome of the case potentially having implications for his eligibility to contest the presidency.
Meanwhile, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has continued to attract attention within opposition circles through the Linda Mwananchi movement. Supporters of the movement have increasingly presented him as a possible candidate who could mount a serious challenge against President Ruto, adding another layer to the ongoing debate over the opposition’s presidential ticket.
The growing list of potential contenders has increased pressure on opposition leaders to develop a mechanism for managing competing ambitions while maintaining a united political front. The ability of the opposition to agree on a single candidate could ultimately determine the strength of its challenge to President Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
The 2027 presidential race is expected to take shape more clearly after Christmas, with Gachagua favouring a strategy that prioritizes grassroots political mobilization before the opposition settles on its joint presidential candidate.
The period is also likely to provide a clearer indication of how competing political interests will be reconciled and who will eventually emerge as the opposition’s preferred candidate to challenge President William Ruto.
