MP Njeri Maina endorses Gachagua as Opposition's best bet against Ruto in 2027

Speaking during a church service at ACK St. Thomas Cathedral in Kerugoya on Sunday, Maina said Gachagua had earned the right to seek the presidency, despite growing competition among opposition leaders seeking to fly the coalition's presidential flag.

She argued that Gachagua's political resilience and influence made him the best-placed opposition figure to challenge President Ruto.

"Gachagua has fought a lot of battles and he is worthy and eligible to run as President. I know there are a lot of co-principals asking to be fronted as President in the united opposition alliance, but Rigathi has shown that he alone is the only candidate able to garner votes and stop Ruto from stealing them and send him back to Sugoi," Maina said.

Her remarks come amid growing debate over who should lead the opposition coalition into the 2027 elections, with several senior figures reportedly expressing interest in the presidential ticket.

Maina also dismissed claims that Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) lacks national appeal, citing the party's recent victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

"There are people who said that Rigathi Gachagua's DCP Party is only confined to Nyeri. I want to inform them that this party they looked down upon has elected its first MP, Ol Kalou's Sammy Douglas Waweru," she said.

The lawmaker further warned against what she described as attempts to intimidate or disrupt DCP activities, saying the party would resist political violence and interference.

 "Those who want to disrupt DCP and violently attack us should know that we shall not allow you, whether you are President William Ruto's mole or not. Mt Kenya is Gachagua's fortress," she added.

The event also featured sharp exchanges over local politics, with Maina accusing Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru of attempting to disrupt the church gathering through hired individuals.

"I want to tell Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, who has sent goons to disrupt our meeting today, that I respect you like my mother but I do not fear you," she alleged.

Maina concluded her address by expressing confidence that Gachagua would become Kenya's sixth president.

 "I want to announce it here in Kirinyaga, where we milk lions while sitting on porcupines, that the sixth President of the Republic of Kenya will be His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua," she said.

Earlier, Gachagua hailed the DCP's victory in the Ol Kalou by-election as evidence of shifting political momentum ahead of 2027.

He accused the government of deploying vast financial resources in an unsuccessful attempt to influence the outcome, claiming billions of shillings were spent on the campaign. He cited an anecdote of a local woman allegedly receiving KSh98,000 during the campaign period but said voters ultimately rejected inducements and backed the opposition candidate.

The former deputy president also criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration over the state of the economy and security, arguing that the by-election result reflected growing public dissatisfaction.

He maintained that the 2027 presidential contest would be defined by a showdown between the current administration and the Mt. Kenya political establishment, signalling his intention to play a central role in leading the opposition's challenge against President Ruto.