Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to mount a formidable challenge against President William Ruto, promising to make him a one-term president.
Speaking on Monday alongside opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa, Gachagua said he would rally all Kenyans to oppose Ruto’s administration, which he described as dictatorial and intolerant.
“He wants his way, and all those ministers are just flower girls,” Gachagua said, accusing Ruto of running a one-man government. “I am the only one who can stand up to him.”
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This marks yet another sharp attack on Ruto by the former DP, who was impeached in October 2024. Since his ouster, Gachagua has been a vocal critic of the administration, alleging that Cabinet ministers have been reduced to mere sycophants under Ruto’s leadership.
Gachagua urged Kenyans to rise against what he termed “oppressive governance” and called for documentation of any reckless statements made by the president or his officials to be forwarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The former DP has also been making strategic alliances to strengthen his position. He recently held discussions with NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua, Raila Odinga’s running mate in 2022, on forming a united front against Ruto’s “dictatorship.”
At his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri, Gachagua has been hosting consultative meetings with leaders from various sectors. In a bold declaration, he suggested that the Mount Kenya region, which played a crucial role in Ruto’s 2022 victory, might back a leader from Western Kenya in 2027.
“Mt Kenya supported Western Kenya in 2022, and we can do it again,” he said, warning Ruto against taking the region’s support for granted. He added that Mt Kenya’s 47% backing for Ruto in 2022 is now up for grabs, with the region beginning to shift its allegiance.
Gachagua criticized the government for failing to deliver on promises made to Western Kenya, including the construction of 1,000 kilometres of tarmacked roads. He accused the administration of betraying the region and asserted that it was no longer willing to support a government that does not honor its commitments.
“We cannot continue to stand with a government that fails to deliver on its promises,” he said.
As Gachagua builds his political future, his fiery rhetoric and strategic alliances suggest a growing opposition movement. Whether his efforts will significantly challenge Ruto’s administration remains to be seen, but Gachagua’s bold declarations signal a brewing political battle ahead of the 2027 elections.