Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has boldly claimed that President William Ruto will lose badly in the 2027 General Election if opposition leader Raila Odinga enters the race. Speaking during a meeting with the Kenyan diaspora in Seattle, Washington State, Gachagua dismissed Raila’s political relevance and declared his own camp the dominant force heading into the next election.
Gachagua, who has recently distanced himself from President Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), expressed confidence that their emerging political formation will win the presidency whether Raila runs or not. “Even if they are together, we will beat them 70 plus 1. If Raila decides to run, Ruto will be number four in the elections. Either way, we are okay. He is one-term,” Gachagua stated.
He dismissed Raila’s political value, asserting that the ODM leader has lost significant support across the country. “The Kamba nation, the Kisiis, the Luhyas, and even the Maasai have left him,” Gachagua said. He further claimed that Raila’s traditional support base in the Luo Nyanza region is no longer unified, pointing to what he described as waning influence for the veteran opposition leader.
The remarks signal Gachagua’s deepening rift with President Ruto and suggest an active push to build alliances ahead of 2027, possibly even with leaders from the opposition. He portrayed his political movement as a growing force capable of defeating any coalition that Ruto and Raila might form.
Gachagua’s address in the U.S. also highlighted his engagement with Kenyans living abroad, whom he described as hardworking and honest. “I had an engaging and fruitful deliberation with Kenyans in Seattle, Washington State,” he said, commending the diaspora community for openly sharing their concerns about the state of the nation.
With political temperatures rising and realignments beginning to take shape, Gachagua’s remarks add fuel to the growing speculation over potential new coalitions that could redefine Kenya’s 2027 presidential race.
