Gachagua Tells Ruto: ‘Kenyans Are Your Real Opponents, Not Uhuru’
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at President William Ruto’s remarks about retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, arguing that the country’s voters — rather than the former Head of State — will determine the outcome of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua made the remarks in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after Ruto questioned Uhuru’s political influence and referred to his failure to prevent Ruto from winning the 2022 presidential election.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta is not your opponent in this election. You are just trying a bad deflection,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President argued that the political contest should focus on the concerns of ordinary Kenyans rather than the role of the retired president.
“55 million Kenyans are your opponents,” he said.
Gachagua defends Uhuru
Gachagua also defended Uhuru’s role in the 2022 election, disputing the suggestion that the former president’s inability to stop Ruto from winning demonstrated the strength of Ruto’s political position.
According to Gachagua, Uhuru did not persuade enough Kenyans at the time to support the argument against Ruto.
He claimed the political situation had since changed, saying Kenyans were now in a position to make their own assessment of the current administration.
Gachagua’s comments come amid renewed political exchanges between Ruto and Uhuru, as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
‘Your opponents are the people of Kenya’
The DCP leader shifted his focus to groups he said would ultimately determine the outcome of the next election, including workers, young people, business owners, patients, parents and students.
He argued that political leaders seeking to challenge Ruto would receive their mandate directly from voters rather than from Uhuru.
“The leaders tasked with the responsibility of removing you from office by Kenyans require no sponsorship. They have clear, and sufficient instructions from the people of Kenya,” he said.
Gachagua’s statement reflects the increasingly open positioning of opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 polls, with discussions continuing over whether opposition parties can agree on a single presidential candidate.
Gachagua says opposition candidate will be announced
Gachagua said the opposition’s remaining task was to identify the presidential candidate who would represent the wider coalition in the 2027 election.
“The decision to vote you out is settled, and only one matter is outstanding to complete the picture: the identification of a single presidential candidate to take you home,” he said.
He added that consultations were continuing and that Kenyans would be informed once the opposition settled on its preferred candidate.
The DCP leader has previously said he is willing to support another opposition candidate, including serving as a running mate, if opposition leaders agree on a candidate.
Ol Kalou by-election ‘dress rehearsal’
Gachagua also referred to the recent Ol Kalou by-election, describing it as an indication of what he expects the political environment to look like ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Ol Kalou was just a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming General Election,” he said.
His latest remarks add to the increasingly direct exchanges between Ruto and opposition figures as political parties and alliances begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
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