Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i held a private meeting in Aberdeen, Maryland, sparking speculation about potential political realignments ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
Gachagua, who is on an extensive tour of the United States to engage with the Kenyan diaspora, confirmed the meeting through a statement on his official social media handle on Saturday. He described the interaction as a “tête-à-tête” and said the two discussed pressing national issues and what he called “the liberation cause.”
“During my visit to the USA, I had a tete-a-tete with Dr. Fred Matiang’i at Aberdeen, Maryland. We discussed several issues affecting our country, Kenya, and our liberation cause. Our focus remains strong, and our commitment to the people of Kenya is unwavered. God bless Kenya,” Gachagua stated.
Though brief, the meeting between the two political heavyweights has stirred the Kenyan political scene, with analysts speculating on the significance of their discussions. Both Gachagua and Matiang’i have previously expressed interest in vying for the presidency in 2027, and their engagement abroad is seen by many as an early step toward forming alliances or testing the waters for broader national coalitions.
Gachagua’s U.S. tour, which began on July 10 in Seattle, Washington, has been billed as a listening and outreach mission. He has met with diaspora communities in Seattle, Boston, Baltimore, and Maryland, often accompanied by his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi. The tour includes town-hall meetings, cultural engagements, and investor forums. Gachagua is also using the trip to drum up support for his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he intends to use as a platform for his 2027 presidential bid.
A source familiar with the tour described it as “a major move to connect with Kenyans abroad and seek input from all segments of the diaspora.”
With the 2027 elections looming, this meeting between Gachagua and Matiang’i signals the possibility of new political alignments and a shifting landscape in Kenya’s high-stakes political arena.
