Kenya’s political landscape was shaken this weekend after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced he will challenge his former boss, President William Ruto, in the 2027 General Election. Speaking at a rally in Murang’a on Saturday, Gachagua declared his candidacy in no uncertain terms: “I have returned to announce that I have agreed to run for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya. Kenyans have determined that the person with the courage and ability to defeat President Ruto is Riggy G.” The declaration intensifies an already growing rift between the two men, once close allies during the 2022 campaign that brought Ruto to power. Gachagua has spent recent weeks consolidating his influence in the Mount Kenya region, a vote-rich bloc that proved decisive in Ruto’s victory.
Gachagua revealed he will contest on the ticket of the newly formed Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP). He is also seeking to form alliances within the United Opposition, which includes figures such as Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (NARC Kenya), Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, Mukhisa Kituyi, and Justin Muturi. If successful, this coalition could mount one of the strongest challenges yet to Ruto’s presidency, uniting veteran opposition leaders with disgruntled allies from within the ruling coalition.
The former deputy president accused Ruto of plotting to weaken Mount Kenya’s political influence by encouraging the creation of splinter parties. Gachagua claimed this was part of a strategy to divide the region’s voting bloc and diminish its bargaining power in 2027. Despite his bold entry into the race, Gachagua faces a steep constitutional hurdle: his impeachment as Deputy President, passed by the National Assembly, remains in force. Unless overturned by the courts, it could disqualify him from running for president.
The announcement sets the stage for a dramatic and unprecedented face-off between a sitting president and his former deputy. Analysts say the contest could redraw Kenya’s political map, with the Mount Kenya region once again at the center of the struggle. Whether Gachagua can overcome the weight of impeachment, the state machinery backing Ruto, and the challenge of uniting opposition leaders remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Kenya’s road to 2027 just became far more unpredictable.
