Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has said he will relocate to the United States if President William Ruto wins a second term in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an interview with Inooro TV on Sunday, November 1, the former Deputy President said he feared that leaders opposed to the current administration would face difficulties if Ruto remained in power.
Gachagua revealed that he already owns a house in the US and would move there if the President secured another term.
“Ruto will try to use our people to split the region, and if I see that happening, I know that Ruto will be re-elected. And if he is re-elected, we will be in trouble, but I won’t be here. I will be in America. I have a house there,” he said.
He also urged leaders in the opposition, particularly those from the Mount Kenya region, to remain united, arguing that divisions would give Ruto an advantage in the next election.
Gachagua said he believed the opposition could defeat the President if leaders from the region worked together.
“We cannot allow the Mt Kenya Region to be divided. I know we will defeat Ruto if we unite as the region, but if we don’t, Ruto will be re-elected, and if that happens, I will board a plane and go to the US. I have a home there,” he added.
Gachagua confirms ownership of US home
His remarks come days after he returned to Kenya following a stay in the US, where he had been meeting Kenyans living there and seeking their support for the opposition’s campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
His return was quieter than his previous arrival, when supporters turned up at the airport to welcome him, leading to chaotic scenes.
During his stay in the US, Gachagua shared photos of a residence in Dallas, Texas. One of the images showed a sign bearing his familiar “I Love Wamunyoro” message, prompting questions about whether the property belonged to him.
He later confirmed that he owned the house, referring to it as his “home away from home” in a social media post.
Gachagua had also visited Dallas in August 2025, when Kenyans in the diaspora welcomed him and his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, at a residence displaying a “Karibu Wamunyoro, Texas” sign. At the time, reports indicated that the sign had been put up by his hosts as a replica of the one at his Wamunyoro home in Kenya.
Opposition faces questions over unity
The DCP leader’s call for unity comes at a time when disagreements among opposition leaders have raised questions about their ability to work together ahead of the 2027 polls.
Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i, speaking in a separate interview on Sunday, accused Gachagua of contributing to divisions within the opposition through what he described as arrogance.
Matiang’i also criticised attempts to reduce political leadership to ethnic interests, saying the country’s future should not be determined along tribal lines.
“That pride and arrogance is what is going to split the opposition and make it difficult for the opposition to come together. We must have everyone on board,” he said.
There have also been reported tensions between Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Linda Mwananchi Movement leader Edwin Sifuna.
The disagreements came into focus on Friday, October 30, when Kalonzo was booed by some supporters of the movement during the launch of its headquarters in Nairobi.
At the same time, leaders allied to the government have been urging Kalonzo to consider joining Ruto’s camp, with some arguing that he should work with those who respect and value him.
Despite the reported disagreements, opposition leaders have continued to maintain that they share a common goal of defeating Ruto in the 2027 General Election.