Gachagua: We will secure our secret card until the last minute

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking during a Community Public Rally in Baltimore, USA, on Sunday July 27, 2025. [Courtesy]

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed that the opposition will not reveal its preferred presidential candidate any time soon, saying the decision is a calculated strategy to outmaneuver President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during a Community Public Rally in Baltimore, USA, Gachagua said the  opposition is united behind the “Ruto Must Go” movement but is deliberately keeping its cards close to its chest to avoid sabotage.

“Why we are saying we have to wait is because we need one candidate to face this man. With the state resources and what he controls, if we name a candidate now, he will frustrate her or him,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua claimed that President Ruto will use state machinery to derail political opponents through court cases, targeted smear campaigns, and tribal profiling.

“He wants us to name a candidate like me, so he can begin peddling the tribal card on me, open cases on us, and we spend most of the time in court. That will frustrate our campaign,” Gachagua said.

The former second-in-command, who has recently positioned himself as a vocal critic of Ruto’s leadership, insisted that the opposition’s temporary strategy is already making the president uncomfortable.

“As per now, our candidate is ‘Ruto Must Go’ and our plan is Wantam (one term). It must remain the same for some bit of time, which continues giving him sleepless nights,” Gachagua said.

The former DP emphasized the importance of unity among all opposition leaders, stating that the stakes are too high for personal ambitions to undermine their cause.

“We have agreed that each one of us will campaign and bring his or her numbers to the negotiation table. Whoever wins the favor of the people will carry our flag,” he said.

In a rare pledge of political humility, Gachagua committed to supporting whichever candidate emerges as the coalition’s choice, even if it’s not him.

“I want to commit that if the formula does not favor me, I will support whoever wins the favor. We must sacrifice for the sake of the country,” he stated.

He warned those considering switching allegiance for short-term gain that they will face the wrath of Kenyans.

“Anybody who is bribed by the current regime to jump ship will be hanged alive by the people of Kenya. And that will be the end of his political career,” he warned.

Gachagua also accused President Ruto of fueling divisions within the opposition, particularly the Orange Democratic Movement, using what he called a divide-and-rule policy.

“Although ODM members are abusing me just because they are in government, I warn them that this is a short-lived celebration. The President told me that he will divide ODM right in the middle and make you a pale shadow of yourself,” he claimed.