Gachagua says opposition could pick 2027 presidential candidate after Christmas

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stated that Kenya's opposition may choose a single presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election after Christmas, once political mobilisation across the nation is complete. Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Gachagua left for a trip to the United States. He believes that selecting a joint candidate would be simpler than building the necessary political support to defeat President William Ruto.

Gachagua emphasized that the primary task for opposition leaders is to mobilise Kenyans to register and vote in large numbers during the 2027 election, highlighting this as the most challenging and urgent task facing the opposition. He noted that opposition leaders must also consolidate support across Kenya's regional political blocs before deciding on a presidential candidate.

Gachagua has already made progress in mobilising support in the Mt Kenya region and Nairobi, and his efforts are now extending into parts of the Rift Valley. He praised opposition figures working to strengthen support in Western Kenya and Nyanza, naming Wamunyinyi, Sifuna, and Malala among those doing well. Gachagua urged Kenyans to be patient, stating that the opposition should finish its mobilisation before deciding on a presidential candidate.

He cited the 2002 presidential election as an example of how an opposition coalition can select a joint candidate late, with Mwai Kibaki chosen as the opposition's single presidential candidate on October 14, 2002, two months before the December 27 election. Gachagua suggested that the opposition could adopt a similar approach for the 2027 election, with negotiations coming after the current mobilisation phase.

The timeline places the question of the opposition's joint presidential candidate in the post-Christmas political calendar, though Gachagua did not specify a final decision date. Gachagua also expressed his belief that he is the strongest candidate to lead the opposition, though the final decision would depend on discussions among coalition leaders.