Moses Kuria Hints at Possible Ruto–Gachagua Deal Ahead of 2027 Election
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has raised fresh speculation over a possible political rapprochement between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
Kuria made the remarks during an interview with Citizen TV on Sunday, August 9, suggesting that the bitter political fallout between Ruto and his former deputy may not necessarily prevent the two leaders from reaching an agreement before voters head to the polls.
The former Cabinet secretary challenged Gachagua to publicly declare that he has no political agreement with President Ruto and that he will not enter into one before the 2027 election.
“I’ve asked him yesterday to go to the moderator of the PCEA church. Take the Bible and say to the world, one, that he doesn’t have a deal currently with William Ruto. And two, that he’s not going to have one before 2027,” Kuria said.
Kuria then appeared to suggest that an overseas trip expected in September could provide an opportunity for the two political rivals to engage.
“Rigathi is preparing for an overseas trip in September in the US. Ruto will be there in September. I don’t know what I’m saying, but watch this space,” he added.
His comments have injected another layer of intrigue into an increasingly fluid political landscape ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has formally scheduled the presidential election for Tuesday, August 10, 2027.
Ruto and Gachagua’s dramatic fallout
Ruto and Gachagua came to power together under the Kenya Kwanza alliance in 2022, but their relationship deteriorated dramatically during their time in office.
Gachagua was eventually removed from the deputy presidency through an impeachment process in 2024, bringing to an end one of the most consequential political partnerships of Ruto’s first term.
Since leaving office, Gachagua has established himself as a major opposition figure and is now the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). In recent months, he has intensified efforts to consolidate political support, particularly in the Mt Kenya region, as part of preparations for 2027.
The former deputy president has repeatedly positioned himself against Ruto’s administration, while the President has also publicly rejected suggestions that Gachagua controls the Mt Kenya vote.
In April, Ruto told supporters in Murang’a that Gachagua did not have the region’s votes in his pocket.
“There are no Mt Kenya votes you carry in your pockets,” Ruto said at the time.
Opposition unity
Gachagua’s political activities have increasingly focused on building a broader opposition coalition capable of challenging Ruto in 2027.
His DCP recently secured a significant victory in the Ol Kalou by-election, after which Gachagua embarked on efforts to strengthen his party’s position in Mt Kenya and attract politicians from other opposition parties.
Kuria’s latest comments therefore raise an intriguing question: could the political hostility between Ruto and Gachagua eventually give way to another deal before the election?
For now, Kuria’s comments remain speculation rather than confirmation of negotiations between the two politicians. Neither Ruto nor Gachagua has publicly confirmed that a political agreement is being discussed.
With the 2027 election approaching, however, Kenya’s political alliances are expected to remain fluid, with parties and individual politicians positioning themselves for possible coalition arrangements.
The prospect of a Ruto-Gachagua reunion would represent one of the most dramatic political reversals of the current electoral cycle if it were to materialise.
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