Gachagua: I will unite opposition leaders in picking single presidential candidate

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced his intention to play a pivotal role in uniting opposition leaders to select a single presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election. During an address on Monday, August 24, 2026, at his residence in Wamunyoro, Gachagua emphasized the importance of setting aside individual ambitions to avoid splitting votes.

According to Gachagua, Kenyans have unanimously expressed their desire for the opposition to field a single presidential candidate against incumbent President William Ruto. Gachagua stated, "Kenyans have told me unanimously that for us to correct the evils that be there for this country, William Ruto must be one term and must be sent home."

He urged opposition leaders to be willing to put aside personal political ambitions if necessary to achieve the broader objective. Should Gachagua not secure the ticket himself, he pledged his support for the candidate chosen by the opposition. Gachagua's primary task is to consolidate support across various regions before selecting the presidential candidate.

He plans to mobilize support beyond his traditional political base, including Western Kenya, the Coast, and other parts of the country. Gachagua highlighted that consolidating support in the Mt Kenya region has enabled him to focus on reaching voters in other areas. He assured that the opposition would settle on its presidential candidate after building a broad national support base.