Gachagua says he is ready to deputise Sifuna in 2027 opposition deal

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says he would be willing to serve as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s running mate if opposition leaders conclude that Sifuna has the best chance of defeating President William Ruto in 2027.

The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader said personal ambition should not prevent opposition figures from agreeing on a joint presidential ticket.

Speaking to Kenyans living in Spokane, Washington, Gachagua presented himself, Sifuna and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as serious contenders who should be prepared to support one another.

“If we do our arithmetic and find that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna will send President William Ruto home early, so be it,” Gachagua said.

“There is no problem. Even I, Riggy G, can deputise Sifuna. There is nothing wrong with that.”

His remarks were greeted with applause from the audience.

Several possible combinations

Gachagua said the opposition should consider different presidential and running mate combinations before settling on its final team.

He suggested that Sifuna could deputise him or Kalonzo, while Kalonzo could also serve as Sifuna’s running mate.

“We will come up with a line up and you will love it,” he said. “We will blend youthful energy with experience.”

The remarks do not amount to the announcement of a formal coalition or presidential ticket.

Neither Sifuna nor Kalonzo has publicly confirmed an agreement based on the combinations proposed by Gachagua.

However, the statement offers an early indication of the compromises that could shape opposition negotiations ahead of the General Election.

Gachagua has previously presented himself as a possible presidential candidate after falling out with Ruto and being removed from office through impeachment in 2024.

His willingness to discuss serving as another candidate’s deputy appears intended to show that he is prepared to sacrifice his own ambition if the opposition identifies a stronger challenger.

Gachagua backs Sifuna’s ambition

Gachagua described Sifuna as a serious presidential contender and rejected suggestions that the Nairobi senator was too young to lead Kenya.

His comments came after Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli told Sifuna that his time to seek the presidency had not yet arrived.

Atwoli argued that Sifuna needed to build a stronger political team and expand his national network before challenging for the country’s highest office.

Gachagua dismissed that argument, saying Sifuna, at 44, was old enough to govern.

He pointed to former United States presidents Barack Obama and Theodore Roosevelt, who assumed office while still relatively young.

“I want to tell that mzee, Sifuna is above 18 years. He is 44,” Gachagua said.

“If at the age of 42 you can govern a country as large as the US, at 44 what is Kenya?”

Roosevelt became US president at 42 after the assassination of William McKinley, while Obama was 47 when elected president in 2008.

Gachagua urged Sifuna not to be discouraged by senior political figures who believe he should wait.

“I have told my younger brother, do not be discouraged by anybody. Go for it,” he said.

Sifuna has left the door open

Sifuna has not formally secured a presidential nomination but has increasingly left open the possibility of running in 2027.

In July, he said he would not reject the opportunity if Kenyans and his political allies collectively asked him to contest.

He has also been associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been organising rallies and positioning itself as an alternative to the Ruto administration.

His growing national profile could complicate opposition negotiations, which already involve several leaders with presidential ambitions.

Apart from Gachagua and Kalonzo, other opposition figures have also been mentioned as potential candidates or influential coalition partners.

The challenge will be choosing one candidate without alienating the regions and parties represented by those who step aside.

Opposition arithmetic

Gachagua said the eventual decision should be based on political support rather than seniority, age or personal entitlement.

“If you persuade us that you are the best person to take Ruto home, we will rally behind you,” he said.

He added that he would similarly support Kalonzo if the Wiper leader demonstrated that he was the strongest candidate.

The former deputy president’s reference to “arithmetic” points to the regional calculations that have long shaped Kenyan presidential coalitions.

A viable opposition ticket would need to combine large voting blocs while attracting support beyond the candidates’ traditional strongholds.

Sifuna is associated with Nairobi and Western Kenya, Kalonzo commands significant support in Ukambani, while Gachagua is seeking to consolidate backing in the Mount Kenya region.

The three leaders also represent different generations and political experiences.

Whether those constituencies can be brought together under one ticket remains uncertain.

A promise, but no agreement yet

Gachagua’s statement is politically significant because former deputy presidents often continue pursuing the presidency rather than publicly considering another deputy role.

It is also a direct endorsement of Sifuna’s right to seek the presidency at a time when some senior leaders are urging him to wait.

But the proposal remains conditional.

There is no confirmed joint ticket, coalition agreement or declared process for selecting the opposition’s presidential candidate.

For now, Gachagua has introduced another possible arrangement into an already crowded opposition contest.

The more difficult stage will be turning public declarations of flexibility into an agreement that all the leading candidates are prepared to honour.