Gachagua, Sifuna, Kalonzo emerge as potential opposition flagbearers for 2027 presidential election

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday met the Linda Mwananchi movement leadership at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri for discussions on the 2027 poll game plan.

According to sources privy to the deliberations, the Mashujaa Day meeting narrowed down to three principals in the United Opposition, who bear the potential to become the faction’s flagbearer in the 2027 presidential contest, and an agreement that the candidate to face President William Ruto could only be named next year.

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Linda Mwananchi boss Edwin Sifuna and DCP's Gachagua were reportedly identified as the main contenders for the United Opposition candidate to square it out with the incumbent at the ballot.

Despite Gachagua describing the meeting as one intended to rid him of the tribal leader tag, those privy to the talks intimated that the two camps explored avenues in which DCP and Linda Mwananchi would work together moving forward, after Sifuna concludes the rebranding of his The Equitable Party (TEP), an arrangement that could see both entities embark on joint rallies across the country.

“Watu wengine wanatubandika majina but we are not as complicated as it is said. We are that simple. Let nobody tell you we are tribal, we’re not. Because when we supported President William Ruto, he was a Kalenjin. He was not Kamau and he was not Njoroge,” said Gachagua at the meeting.

The two camps are said to be in agreement on naming the single presidential candidate for the opposition next year, with Kalonzo expected to make a similar visit to the DCP leader in coming days.

Tuesday's sitting came on the backdrop of Gachagua’s remarks in the US where he indicated that he could not be averse to backing Sifuna, should the arithmetic place him as the front runner.

“If we do our arithmetic and find that Sifuna ndiye atapeleka hii mtu nyumbani mapema, so be it. And there is no problem. There is no problem. Even I Riggy G I can deputize Sifuna. Kwani iko makosa gani. I am saying, even Sifuna can deputize me,” Gachagua said last month.

This even as DCP has been non-committal on joining the newly unveiled The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA), rebranded from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, led by Kalonzo Musyoka.

“Wakishaungana kama Ukombozi coalition, watakuja sasa wakae na sisi. Sasa tuelewane. So that, sisi DCP hatutaingia kule kwa Azimio. We cannot get there. Wao washikane wote.alafu sisi na Sifuna tushikane , alafu tuongeleshane,” DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala said last month.

The Tuesday sitdown is further expected to deepen cracks within the opposition as a section principals demand equity when it comes to the selection of the single presidential flagbearer, to face off President Ruto in next year’s polls.