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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that he would fully back Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka if the opposition settles on him as its joint presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Friday during the Wiper National Delegates Conference at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, Gachagua pledged to campaign for Kalonzo more aggressively than he did for President William Ruto in the 2022 polls.
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“If the opposition agrees that Kalonzo Musyoka will be the sole presidential candidate, I, together with my supporters, will stand with him. What I did for Ruto was only a preview; this time, my campaign will be ten times stronger,” Gachagua told the cheering delegates.
He encouraged Kalonzo to intensify grassroots outreach and build alliances with other opposition leaders to strengthen his chances of clinching the top seat.
“Keep mobilising, keep uniting others — that’s how victory will come,” he said.
Gachagua also suggested that only President Ruto and a united opposition candidate would stand a realistic chance in the 2027 presidential race.
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His declaration marks a major shift in his political stance. Once a staunch ally of Ruto during the Jubilee government, Gachagua played a key role in galvanising Mount Kenya voters during the 2022 elections. However, relations between the two deteriorated following his impeachment in 2024, prompting Gachagua to align himself with opposition figures.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who also attended the event, echoed Gachagua’s sentiments, pledging to support Kalonzo should the opposition endorse him as flagbearer.
“We have agreed to put aside personal ambition for the good of the country. If the united opposition chooses you, Kalonzo, we will rally behind you,” Matiang’i said.
Their remarks signal renewed momentum within the opposition to unite behind a single candidate ahead of the 2027 elections. Kalonzo has in recent months held talks with leaders including Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K) and Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya) as part of efforts to consolidate a broad-based coalition.
