Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged to support whoever is picked as the opposition’s presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election if he is not selected.
Gachagua said he would back the eventual candidate unconditionally, challenging other opposition leaders seeking the ticket to make a similar commitment.
Speaking to Kenyans in Dallas, United States, on Sunday, Gachagua said the opposition must agree on one candidate to face President William Ruto in the election.
“I want to give my commitment. That if it’s not me, I’ll support whoever it is unconditionally,” Gachagua said.
He challenged fellow presidential hopefuls to publicly make the same commitment and direct their supporters to back whoever emerges from the negotiations.
Gachagua warned that statements by supporters suggesting they would back Ruto if their preferred candidate is not selected could undermine efforts to unite the opposition.
“I want to say to us those who want to be president to tell their supporters to stop issuing some statements,” he said.
He cited claims that some supporters were saying they would vote for Ruto if their preferred candidate was not picked as the opposition flagbearer.
“That kind of talk is retrogressive,” Gachagua said, urging opposition leaders to give clear direction to their supporters.
The former Deputy President said Kenyans were demanding that opposition leaders put aside their individual ambitions and settle on a single candidate.
He named himself, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Edwin Sifuna, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa among those who could potentially be considered for the ticket.
“Kenyans are saying, we don’t know whom we want, but we know whom we don’t want,” Gachagua said.
He said the eventual candidate should be accepted by all the leaders involved in the opposition discussions, regardless of who wins the internal contest.
Gachagua has previously said he would support another candidate if the opposition determines that he is not the person best placed to challenge Ruto. He has also said he would be open to serving as a running mate if the political numbers favour another candidate, including Sifuna.
On Sunday, he said the opposition’s main task was to ensure it does not split its support by presenting multiple presidential candidates.
“We shall make whatever sacrifices possible to get one candidate to face William Ruto,” he said.
Gachagua also claimed that he had conducted what he described as a scientific poll in which Ruto had 17 per cent support.
However, he did not identify the polling organisation, methodology or sample in the remarks, meaning the figure could not be independently established from his speech.
He further claimed the opposition could defeat Ruto with a large margin if it united behind one candidate.
The remarks come as opposition leaders continue consultations on alliances and the possibility of settling on a joint presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
