Inside Gachagua’s Plan to Deputize Edwin Sifuna

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced he is willing to deputize Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna in the 2027 presidential election.

Gachagua made the remarks during a community engagement in Spokane, Washington, where he discussed the opposition’s possible strategy ahead of the 2027 General Election on September 6.

“If we do our arithmetic and find that Sifuna will be the one to take home early, so be it. And there is no problem; even I, Riggy G, can deputize Sifuna. Where is the problem?” Rigathi Gachagua explained.

The former Deputy President said his priority was to defeat Ruto and suggested that opposition leaders should be prepared to support whichever candidate has the strongest chance of winning the presidency.

Gachagua identified Sifuna, himself, and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as politicians who could potentially play leading roles in the 2027 opposition contest.

However, he called on the opposition to avoid a divided presidential contest and instead agree on a single candidate capable of defeating Ruto in the first round.

According to the former deputy presidents ,  all the presidential aspirants in the opposition were capable, and the 2027 seat could go to any of them, including Sifuna.

Additionally, he explained he would be prepared to support Sifuna, including serving as his running mate, if the political circumstances required such an arrangement.

He, however, indicated that political ambitions should not prevent opposition leaders from negotiating a joint ticket.

Additionally, Gachagua maintained that he would first seek to convince his political colleagues to support his own presidential bid.

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Gachagua Defends Sifuna’s Presidential Bid

Gachagua also hit back at Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, questioning Sifuna’s suitability for the presidency because of his age.

Atwoli had argued that Sifuna’s time to pursue the presidency had not yet arrived.

Gachagua rejected the argument, saying Sifuna, who is 44, is old enough to seek the country’s highest office, comparing Sifuna’s age with that of former United States President Barack Obama, who was elected at 47, as well as former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected at 42.

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Kalonzo Also Opens Door to Sifuna

Gachagua’s remarks come after Wiper Party leader Kalonzo clarified in August that he would have no objection to deputizing Sifuna if that arrangement could help remove Ruto’s administration from power.

Speaking during a televised interview, Kalonzo said the opposition needed to consider Kenya’s demographics when determining the composition of its eventual ticket.

“I have no problem deputizing Sifuna, but you must take into account Kenya’s demographics,” Kalonzo said.

Further, Kalonzo also predicted that a united opposition could defeat Ruto by more than 70 percent in the 2027 General Election.

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