Ex-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua

The United Opposition has announced that it will delay naming its joint presidential candidate for strategic reasons, according to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking in Murang’a County on Saturday, Gachagua said the opposition is in no rush to announce its flagbearer, even as Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka had previously indicated that the candidate would be revealed early this year.

“If we announce our candidate too early, our candidate will be confused completely. We will declare our flagbearer a few months before the election,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua explained that the delay would give the opposition more time to consolidate support and attract other like-minded parties to the alliance.

“If we do it now, we might exclude people like our brother Edwin Sifuna. Even Mzee Oburu Oginga has expressed interest in running. We need to hear from everyone,” he said.

Speaking during the burial of Alice Gakuya, mother to Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, Gachagua stated that some government officials have privately indicated their willingness to join the opposition.

“There are people in the government who speak to me at night and say they will decamp at the right time. We have to wait for them before unveiling our lineup,” Gachagua claimed.

The former Deputy President referenced the 2002 elections, noting that Mwai Kibaki’s candidacy was unveiled only a few months before the polls.

He said the opposition’s 2027 candidate would similarly be chosen close to the election date.

“As opposition, we are ready to back any person agreed upon by the coalition. Whether it’s Kalonzo, Fred Matiang’i, Sifuna, or George Natembeya, we will align,” Gachagua said.

The comments appeared to contrast with Kalonzo Musyoka’s statement in December 2025, in which he committed to announcing the opposition’s presidential candidate by the first quarter of 2026.

“I make this commitment to you: by the first quarter of 2026, the name of our presidential candidate will be made known to Kenyans. The United Opposition is not just a coalition; it’s your government-in-waiting. We are united not by personal ambition, but by shared values,” Kalonzo said in his message.

During the Murang’a event, Gachagua also defended retired President Uhuru Kenyatta amid criticism from some ODM members.

“You should stop insulting Uhuru Kenyatta… he has already retired,” he said.