Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said President William Ruto would face insurmountable political odds if the Mt Kenya region votes as a united bloc in the 2027 General Election, insisting that the area will back a single opposition candidate agreed upon by the United Opposition.
Speaking at ACK St Mark Church in Gitugi, Murang’a County, Gachagua argued that unity among voters in the vote-rich region would decisively shape the outcome of the next presidential contest.
“Ruto knows very well that if the mountain votes as a bloc, he stands no chance,” he said.
“The candidate who will be picked by the United Opposition will be guaranteed the entire votes from the mountain.”
Gachagua said the opposition was committed to preventing any internal divisions in the region, warning against attempts to split the Mt Kenya vote through competing political interests.
According to him, the focus has shifted from persuasion to mobilisation.
“We will not allow anybody to divide Mt Kenya votes,” he said.
“The only issue we will deal with in Mt Kenya is registration of voters and working on turnout on election day.”
He said the United Opposition was open to several possible presidential candidates, adding that whoever emerges through the agreed formula would receive full backing from the region.
He named Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, businessman Eugene Wamalwa, and himself as potential beneficiaries of the unified support.
“Kalonzo Musyoka, if the formula favours you, you will get the entire votes from the mountain. Matiang’i, if it favours you, you will get the entire Mt Kenya vote, the same with my sister Karua and Eugene or even me,” Gachagua said.
He dismissed the need for extensive campaigns aimed at converting voters in the region against President Ruto, claiming that public opinion in Mt Kenya was already firmly opposed to a second term for the Head of State.
“We do not want people to be wasting time trying to convert others to be aligned to One Term. These people are already One Term,” he said.
Gachagua said opposition efforts in the region would concentrate on ensuring high voter registration numbers and maximising turnout on election day, describing the two as decisive factors in delivering a united vote.
“The conversation here is voter registration and voter turnout,” he said.
The former DP’s remarks come amid intensifying political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition leaders pushing for a single candidate to challenge President Ruto.
Mt Kenya remains a critical battleground, given its large voting population and historical influence on Kenya’s presidential outcomes.
