NAIROBI, KENYA — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is emerging as a pivotal figure in Kenyan politics, orchestrating a coalition aimed at preventing President William Ruto from securing a second term in the 2027 elections.
Following a divergence from the current administration, Gachagua is positioning himself as the leader of a political resistance, asserting that his assembled team is aligned with “the right side of history.” His objective is to unite influential, previously disparate political figures into a powerful opposition force.
Gachagua’s declaration that his coalition “has what it takes to make Ruto a one-term leader” underscores the ambitious nature of his political strategy.
Gachagua has disclosed that he has held discussions with several prominent political figures, including former cabinet secretaries Fred Matiang’i, Mithika Linturi, and Justin Muturi, as well as political leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, and Mukhisa Kituyi.
The political landscape now awaits to see if this alliance of influential figures can maintain unity to challenge President Ruto’s administration, or if their past rivalries and individual ambitions will undermine their efforts.
Gachagua remains confident that the 2027 election will be shaped by his coalition, with a new party launch planned for May.
In an interview with Weru TV on Sunday, Gachagua stated that the opposition’s strategy will be based on empirical data, rather than tribal alliances or behind-the-scenes agreements.
“We’re relying on scientific data, not guesswork. This is a precision mission to defeat the incumbent,” he said.
A central element of Gachagua’s platform is the promise to abolish President Ruto’s controversial Housing Levy. He has pledged to refund affected Kenyans and transfer the housing initiative to county governments. “We will kill the Housing Levy. It’s a private enterprise masked as a government program,” he said. “The counties will rent out the houses, and Kenyans will get their money back—every shilling.”
Gachagua has also indicated that the alliance will announce its presidential candidate by the end of 2026, following an extensive grassroots campaign. He has identified Central Kenya as a key battleground for this political movement.
“We’re targeting 50 MPs from the central region alone. We’re not just building a coalition—we’re building a political machine,” he added.
