Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Wamunyoro when he hosted Wiper Patriotic Front leaders on August 18, 2026. [Courtesy]
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Mount Kenya leaders to abandon divisive politics and back a single opposition candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua spoke at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County on Tuesday, August, 18, while hosting leaders of the Wiper Patriotic Front, where he called for a broader alliance built on his Democracy for the Citizens Party and Wiper Patriotic Front partnership.
The remarks come against a backdrop of intensifying but still unsettled opposition talks.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Gachagua and Democratic Action Party-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa met in Nairobi in early August and reaffirmed their commitment to building a united opposition, with the coalition mandating Kalonzo to keep engaging other formations including DCP and the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
Gachagua, however, has yet to formally commit DCP to the Azimio coalition.
His Wamunyoro residence has meanwhile become a frequent stop for opposition figures and allies, with grassroots consultations there gathering pace as part of efforts to strengthen support ahead of the 2027 vote.
The unity push has not been friction-free: Gachagua recently faced pushback from smaller allied parties after calling on them to dissolve into DCP, a proposal that leaders of the Democratic Party, PNU and Umoja na Maendeleo Party rejected as overreach.