Gachagua Tells Ruto to Stop Wooing Opposition Leaders, Says They Have Agreed to Back One Candidate

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has told President William Ruto to abandon attempts to win over Opposition leaders, insisting that key figures in the political camp have committed to remaining united ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua claimed that leaders from different Opposition parties had reached an understanding to rally behind a single presidential candidate to challenge Ruto, ruling out the possibility of any of them defecting to the President’s camp.

Speaking during a church service at AIC Bathi in Kimende, Kiambu County, on Sunday, November 15, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader said politicians he had approached individually had pledged to work together.

“Ruto, let me tell you not to wait for anybody from the Opposition. They are not available. Do not wait for Sifuna, he is not available,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua Names Leaders He Says Have Ruled Out Joining Ruto

The former Deputy President cited Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua among politicians he claimed had committed to remaining in the Opposition.

“Martha Karua has confirmed to us, she can never join Ruto. You already know Martha, do not even wait for her. Don’t wait for Matiang’i and me, of course you know my stand,” he said.

Gachagua further claimed that he had personally reached out to several leaders to establish their position on the proposed Opposition unity arrangement.

“And I want to tell you that all those leaders I have met individually have committed to unity. I have asked Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna if he could abandon us, he swore never. Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i also ruled it out.”

He said the leaders had agreed that once they settled on a joint presidential candidate, none of them would join Ruto’s political camp.

“We have all agreed that after we name one candidate, we have all agreed that none of us will join Ruto,” he said.

Gachagua Promises to Help Identify Joint Opposition Candidate

Gachagua also pledged to play a central role in bringing together Opposition leaders and facilitating the selection of a single candidate to challenge Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.

“I want to assure the people of Kenya that Gachagua will make whatever sacrifices, create time and opportunity, reach out and will play a central role in identification of the joint candidate to face Ruto,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing negotiations would begin yielding visible progress before Christmas, promising to prevent divisions within the political camp.

“Before Christmas we will start to see how things are shaping. Opposition will not split under my watch. I will be working very hard to unite the Opposition,” he said.

Gachagua Dismisses Poll Linking Him to Opposition Divisions

The DCP leader also rejected findings of a recent opinion poll that identified him as the politician most frequently blamed for disagreements within the Opposition.

A survey by TIFA Research and Consulting released on November 12 found that 43 per cent of Opposition supporters identified Gachagua as the person most responsible for divisions among Opposition leaders.

President Ruto and the UDA government followed at 15 per cent, while Sifuna was cited by seven per cent.

Gachagua dismissed the findings as misleading, maintaining that he was instead leading efforts to bring different political camps together.

“That recent poll that said Gachagua is the divisive leader in Opposition is misleading. I am the one bringing the Opposition together,” he said.

He maintained that he would continue engaging leaders from different political parties to secure an agreement on a common presidential candidate, insisting that internal disagreements would not derail their efforts to mount a united challenge against Ruto in 2027.

His remarks come as political leaders across the country intensify consultations and positioning ahead of the next General Election, with the question of who will carry the Opposition’s presidential flag remaining a major issue.