The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has said he would be willing to serve as Edwin Sifuna’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election if opposition calculations show that the Nairobi senator has the strongest chance of defeating President William Ruto.
Gachagua said opposition leaders should remain flexible about possible coalition arrangements as they work to build a formidable political team ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking to Kenyans living in the diaspora in Spokane, Washington, Gachagua said he would have no reservations about deputising Sifuna if the political numbers favoured such an arrangement.
He said that if the opposition’s assessment showed Sifuna was best positioned to defeat Ruto, then he would be prepared to support him, including by serving as his deputy.
Gachagua also said the arrangement could work in reverse, with Sifuna potentially becoming his running mate or deputising other opposition leaders such as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
He said the opposition would eventually settle on a ticket that combines youthful leadership with political experience.
The remarks drew cheers and applause from Kenyans attending the meeting.
Gachagua later stressed that his comments should not be dismissed as political talk, insisting that he, Sifuna and Kalonzo were all serious contenders for the presidency.
He described Sifuna as a genuine presidential aspirant and said the same applied to himself and Kalonzo, adding that any of them could support another candidate if that person emerged as the strongest challenger to Ruto.
Gachagua’s remarks came shortly after Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli questioned Sifuna’s readiness to pursue the presidency in 2027.
Atwoli had advised Sifuna to wait, arguing that the Nairobi senator still needed to strengthen his political network and expand his national reach before seeking the presidency.
Gachagua dismissed suggestions that Sifuna was too young to become president.
He pointed to former US presidents Barack Obama and Theodore Roosevelt as examples of leaders who assumed office at relatively young ages, arguing that Sifuna, at 44, was old enough to lead Kenya.
Gachagua urged Sifuna not to be discouraged by criticism from senior political figures and encouraged him to pursue his presidential ambitions.
He further said the opposition should be prepared to rally behind whichever candidate proves capable of defeating Ruto.
According to Gachagua, if Sifuna can convince opposition leaders that he is the strongest candidate, they should be ready to support him.
He extended the same position to Kalonzo Musyoka, saying the Wiper leader could also secure opposition backing if he demonstrates that he has the best chance of winning the presidency.
