NAIROBI, Kenya — Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed growing calls for Kenya’s United Opposition coalition to unveil a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting there is no urgency.
Speaking on Tuesday, the former Deputy President drew historical parallels to argue that early declarations are unnecessary.
“There is no hurry. Mwai Kibaki was named as opposition flagbearer on October 14, 2002, when the election was on December 27, 2 months and 13 days apart. There is no hurry. We should not be in a hurry,” said Gachagua.
In a press address, Gachagua said the opposition alliance remains committed to fielding a single presidential candidate drawn from its coalition parties, but stressed that consultations were still ongoing.
“We are committed to having a single Presidential candidate to face William Ruto. We want to ask for patience from the people of Kenya. Coalition building is a delicate affair,” he told the press.
Gachagua, who was impeached as Deputy President in 2024 following a bruising fallout with President William Ruto, used the briefing to launch a fresh attack on his former boss, accusing him of enabling corruption across public institutions.
He welcomed a petition seeking to ban political activities at State House, arguing that the official presidential residence had been transformed into a partisan political arena dominated by ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) activities.
“StateHouse has become a scene of crime. It has become centre of corruption and bribery,” he said, adding, “Ruto has abandoned the government. He is not thinking about government anymore. He is just thinking about re-election. State House is a campaign scene.”
Beyond the presidency, Gachagua alleged that corruption had spread to Parliament, singling out both the National Assembly and the Senate as beneficiaries of what he described as a culture of bribery originating from the executive.
“Ruto has enabled corruption; he is calling people to the lawns of State House and giving them bribes openly. Once the President has shown bribery is a way of life, the Senators have learnt from him,” said Gachagua.
“When I was being hounded out of office. The Senators who hounded me out of office were given Ksh.10 million each, and others Ksh.20 million. It is a den of corruption, so is the National Assembly,” he claimed.
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The DCP leader also accused President Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki of normalising corruption through public handouts during political tours.
The Kenya Kwanza administration has repeatedly denied allegations of institutionalised corruption, maintaining that it remains committed to transparency and accountability.
However, corruption continues to rank among the top public concerns, with recent surveys and international indices showing declining confidence in anti-graft efforts.
With the 2027 elections still two years away, political analysts say opposition unity, and the timing of a single flagbearer, could prove decisive in shaping the next phase of Kenya’s increasingly polarised political landscape.
