Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is widening his 2027 political campaign, turning his attention to Nyanza after 55 days of consultations in Mt Kenya as he seeks to build support beyond his traditional political base.
The Democratic Congress Party (DCP) leader said on Monday, August 24, that he will tour Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay and Kisumu as part of efforts to take his political mobilisation to other parts of the country.
Gachagua made the announcement after concluding a 55-day political conclave at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri, where he said Kenyans had shared their concerns, grievances and proposals on issues affecting the country.
He said the consultations would now move beyond Mt Kenya as he works to build a wider national support base ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua also sought to play down concerns over past political differences between Mt Kenya and Nyanza, particularly the Luo community, as he prepares to visit the region.
“There’s no conflict whatsoever between the Luo nation and Mt Kenya,” Gachagua said.
He said his relationship with the Luo community goes back years, noting that two Luo figures had played an important role in mentoring him and shaping his leadership.
Gachagua further cautioned against efforts to create divisions between him and the Luo community as he takes his political campaign to Nyanza.
Relations between Mt Kenya and Nyanza have over the years been shaped by changing political alliances, with the two regions at times supporting different presidential candidates and at other times joining forces.
In 2002, opposition parties rallied behind Mwai Kibaki, while in the 2022 election, Raila Odinga's ODM and Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee joined forces under the Azimio coalition.
Gachagua's planned Nyanza tour comes as opposition leaders work to settle on a single presidential candidate to face President William Ruto in the 2027 election.
The opposition group includes Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa.
The leaders have repeatedly said they intend to present one candidate, although they have yet to agree on who will receive the opposition ticket.
Gachagua has positioned himself within the wider opposition effort while also working to strengthen his own national profile. Recent meetings among the leaders have maintained the push for a joint candidate, but several names remain in the race.
A July Infotrak survey placed Kalonzo ahead of Matiang'i among opposition supporters, with Gachagua behind the two, highlighting the competition over who could emerge as the preferred candidate to lead the 2027 challenge.
Beyond his planned Nyanza tour, Gachagua is also preparing for an extended visit to the United States, where he is expected to engage Kenyans living abroad.
He said he would leave for the US on Wednesday accompanied by his wife, Dorcas Rigathi, and described the trip as an opportunity to plan for the future of Mt Kenya while engaging Kenyans in the diaspora.
The overseas trip follows the conclusion of his 55-day consultations at Wamunyoro, which he said gave Kenyans an opportunity to present their grievances and suggestions on the direction of the country.
“While these consultations are coming to an end, public engagement will continue across communities within Kenya and beyond,” he took to his X account
Gachagua's next phase will therefore combine visits across Kenya with diaspora engagements as he seeks to widen his political reach and strengthen his place within the opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
“It’s not done until it’s done,” he wrote on X.
“Our commitment remains resolute, and our resolve true to our course,” he added.