Gachagua: I have no problem deputising Sifuna

Gachagua backs Sifuna as a serious 2027 contender, saying he could even deputise him in a united bid to defeat Ruto. [File, Standard]

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed critics watering down Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna on grounds of age, saying he is a serious and strong presidential contender.

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader yesterday said they will work on a comprehensive arithmetic that will send President William Ruto home early in next year’s General Election, even as he stated that he has no problem deputising Sifuna and vice versa.

He took a swipe at the Central Organisation of Trade Unions – Kenya (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, who suggested that Sifuna is too young to run for the presidency, saying that the Linda Mwananchi leader is aged 44 and is more than capable of leading the country.

“I saw that man called Atwoli telling Sifuna that he is too young to be President and should wait. I want to tell Atwoli that Sifuna is above 18; he is 44. President Obama was elected as United States President at the age of 47, and President Franklin Roosevelt of the US at 42. If at the age of 42 you can govern a country as large as the US, at 44, what is so big about it in Kenya?” Gachagua posed.

Gachagua, who made the remarks in Spokane, United States, where he met with Kenyans, urged the young leaders to fight for their space but stated it is too early to declare their presidential candidate.

He said that Sifuna, who has ‘no baggage’, should not be discriminated against based on age because he has the potential to send Ruto home, and if he comes out as the best pick for the opposition, they will not have any problem settling on him.

Former President Rigathi Gachagua at an engagement with Kenyans living in Spokane, Washington State, USA. [Handout, Standard]

But Gachagua continued to plead for patience in this task, saying they require one single presidential candidate and are committed because it is the easiest and surest way of ensuring there is no run-off in the next General Election.

“I have been asked whether I can support Sifuna... why not? We have very serious presidential candidates, and Sifuna is one of them. Riggy G here is a serious candidate, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka is also a serious candidate, and we can give to anybody, including Sifuna,” he said.

“If we do our arithmetic and find Sifuna will take Ruto home very early in the morning, so be it. Even I (Gachagua) can deputise Sifuna... There is no problem at all. Sifuna can also deputise me; Sifuna can deputise Kalonzo; Kalonzo can deputise Sifuna. I have analysed all that arithmetic, and we will come up with one, and you will like it,” Gachagua affirmed.

He said the solution lies in blending youthful energy with experience for the sake of the country, assuring Kenyans that he is the greatest believer and driver of that strategy and will make sure it happens.

According to Gachagua, Sifuna has come of age and can run the country, and it is about time that the country accepts supporting young people as opposed to telling them ‘they are the leaders of tomorrow’ and misusing them at every given chance.

“I have told my younger brother Sifuna not to be discouraged or intimidated by anyone; go for it. If you persuade us that you are the best person to take Ruto home, we will give you that mandate; there is no problem. If Kalonzo convinces us he can bring a Kibaki moment, why not? If Gachagua can persuade them to remove Ruto, why not? Gachagua posed.

The former DP also dismissed claims he attributed to the Leader of the Majority Party in the Senate, Aaron Cheruiyot, who reportedly said that Sifuna cannot have support outside Western Kenya.

“I saw the Senate majority leader saying that we cannot support Sifuna and want to ask, what were we when we supported Ruto? It is actually easier to support Sifuna than Ruto. Sifuna is my cousin. Sifuna has no baggage. Don’t go and spread such things to people,” he told Cheruiyot.

But even as he supported Sifuna’s capacity to be the flag bearer, Gachagua was also quick to state that he is also a presidential candidate and believes he is the best, has what it takes, has the numbers, has mobilisation capacity, and also knows Ruto well.

“I’m actually the person to send Ruto home. I will persuade my colleagues, but if I am unsuccessful and they persuade me otherwise, that for Ruto to go, I need to give way, I will,” he stated.

He also reiterated that Ruto has run down the country and, in just four years, the cost of living has significantly risen; he claimed there is an economic shutdown, the state has been captured and has no time to look after the country.

“There is an economic shutdown. There is no money in circulation. There is just theft and plunder of public resources going on left, right, and centre. The state has been captured, and conflict of interest is what makes things move in our country... You cannot tell the difference between police and goons,” he claimed.

At the same time, Gachagua has sustained his attack on Ruto over what he termed as causing panic among foreign investors over what he termed as closing down investments and ordering those who have been in the country for over 100 years to close down and leave the country.

“Indian investors have looked for me, sharing their plight...I am in the United States of America, where investors have categorically told me that no investor can risk investing in Kenya with what is going on in the country,” he claimed.

Similarly, he accused Ruto of mapping all lands with minerals, saying it is the basis of problems in Magadi, where he alleged that lithium, oil, and gas have been discovered.

“Even if there is a problem in Magadi, you first do public participation and ask the Maa what they think. Even if you are to have change, you do not just close a factory overnight. We are asking him to open up the factory,” he said.