Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says rumours he will quit the 2027 race are false. He insists he is building support, resources and message to beat President William Ruto.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed reports that he will withdraw from the presidential contest in 2027. Speaking on Wednesday, November 5, he called the stories baseless and said he remains firmly in the race.
Gachagua said his priority is to convince coalition partners that he has the numbers, mobilisation strength and resources to win.
“We shall have one single presidential candidate. I have seen William Ruto being sponsored headlines that I will give up and let others run so that I can be given ‘shares’ in government. Who is telling you that? I’m a frontrunner in this race.”
He added he is ready to enter dialogue and compromise if colleagues eventually prefer another candidate, but stressed that no final decision has been taken.
“In case I don’t persuade them and they persuade me that another Kenyan can do it, I’ll sacrifice. We haven’t sat down to agree on who it will be, and we’re in no hurry. We’ll meet after Christmas, 2026.”
A day earlier, former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i underlined the opposition’s commitment to choose one candidate through coalition talks.
Matiang’i said he supports a united process and welcomed the Jubilee Party NEC endorsement as part of the consensus-building approach. He argued that unity is the only realistic path to mount a strong challenge to the sitting government.
“I have always been firmly focused and committed to the democratic process of searching for a single United Opposition candidate for the Presidency in 2027.”
He added that the opposition will stay together and work toward agreeing on one nominee.
Gachagua also reacted to President Ruto’s recent comments that, with Raila Odinga gone, Ruto no longer has a serious political challenger.
He rejected that view and warned the president that his main problem is not rival politicians but citizens unhappy with government performance.
“I have heard William Ruto bragging that with the demise of Raila Odinga, he has no opponent. I would like to inform him that we are not his opponents; his opponents are the people of Kenya.”
President Ruto had earlier said his only worthy competitor was Raila and downplayed the rest of the opposition as lacking a clear agenda.
Gachagua’s defiant tone and Matiang’i’s call for a united opposition show two parallel tracks: one of personal mobilisation and another of coalition negotiations.
The coming months will be crucial opposition leaders must either agree on a single flag-bearer or risk fragmentation that could benefit the ruling coalition. For now, Gachagua signals he will stay in the race while leaving room for talks
