Gachagua predicts one opposition principal will walk away before 2027

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has forecasted that one of the opposition principals will eventually abandon the coalition before the 2027 election. Speaking in Dallas, Texas on September 27, 2026, Gachagua indicated that the opposition's final presidential candidate will be determined by the practicality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the political arrangement, rather than individual ambitions.

He pledged his support for whatever formula emerges from the negotiations, stating that one individual will "go away" while the single presidential candidate is elected by 75% of Kenyan voters. Gachagua affirmed that Gachagua himself would remain with the arrangement, emphasizing his determination to support the most effective approach to remove President William Ruto from office.

He suggested that opposition leaders would eventually agree on a formula, with the remaining principals staying within a broader coalition. The objective, according to Gachagua, should be to choose the arrangement capable of removing Ruto in the first round of the election. His comments imply that Gachagua views the presidential candidature decision as a strategic choice based on the coalition's ability to unite voters, rather than an automatic role for any single leader.

He drew parallels to previous coalition arrangements before the 2022 General Election, where opposition figures formed various coalitions while some candidates ran separately. Gachagua argued that the key lesson for 2027 is to establish a workable formula early and convince the principals to accept the final outcome. He attributed his willingness to support such an arrangement to his patriotic duty to help remove Ruto from power.

Gachagua dismissed concerns about opposition leaders struggling to agree on a common political platform, stating that Kasongo and other critics will be surprised by the unity they can achieve. He framed his prediction as based on his political experience rather than a prophetic claim, emphasizing his belief in the importance of the patriotic mission.