Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to address Kenyans on Monday, August 24, after concluding 55 days of political consultations at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County.
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader is expected to present views gathered from political leaders, grassroots representatives, professionals and young people before outlining his political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua said the final day of the consultations would include a meeting with residents from Mount Kenya North before he turns his attention to young Kenyans, including Generation Z.
He is then expected to hold a press conference at about 3 pm to explain what emerged from the consultations and what he intends to do next.
“When it is done, I will listen to the young people, the Gen Zs. They will come in large numbers, and I will talk to them. By around 3 pm, I shall have a press conference to announce to Kenyans all the opinions I have received and the way forward as the people of Kenya,” Gachagua explained earlier.
The consultations began on June 16, after Gachagua announced that he would step away from political rallies and concentrate on discussions with supporters, opinion leaders and political stakeholders.
The decision followed a High Court ruling that upheld his impeachment while awarding him Sh50 million in damages for violation of his right to a fair hearing. Gachagua said the period would also allow him to consult his legal team and advisers as he considered his next political steps.
He had initially announced a 45-day consultation period, with the main objective being to build consensus around a united opposition and identify a single presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
The exercise was subsequently extended to 55 days, turning Wamunyoro into a meeting point for political leaders, grassroots representatives and delegations from different parts of the country.
Among those Gachagua consulted was Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi, who visited Wamunyoro in July. Their discussions focused on the country's political future and the formation of the next administration.
Gachagua has also engaged community leaders from different regions, including representatives from the South Rift, as he sought to expand his consultations beyond his traditional Mount Kenya political base.
The consultations have therefore provided Gachagua with an opportunity to broaden his political networks, gather views from communities outside his home region and engage potential allies ahead of the 2027 election.
However, the process has not produced a publicly announced single opposition presidential candidate.
Instead, Gachagua has continued to push for opposition unity, arguing that parties seeking to challenge Ruto must agree on one candidate. His advisers had similarly urged him to shift from mass political mobilisation to negotiations aimed at reaching consensus on a common candidate.
The conclusion of the 55-day exercise therefore marks a transition from consultation to political decision-making.
Gachagua's address is expected to indicate whether the meetings have produced a clear framework for opposition cooperation, how a joint candidate could be selected and what role he intends to play in the 2027 presidential contest.
He has continued to present himself as a potential contender while also maintaining that the opposition should agree on a formula for selecting its candidate.
His Wamunyoro engagements have also coincided with efforts to strengthen opposition alliances. Gachagua has held discussions with political figures such as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, PLP Leader Martha Karua, Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang,i and community representatives as opposition parties seek a common strategy against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
After concluding the consultations, Gachagua is expected to travel to Nairobi before leaving for the United States on Wednesday, August 26, with his wife, Pastor Dorcas Gachagua. He has said the trip will allow him to engage Kenyans living in the diaspora and make important political decisions.
“There are things that I am planning and that cannot be done from the country,” he said.
“When I am around the country, there is a lot of influence from people. I want to make some decisions without undue influence from the people I’m around.”
Gachagua's Monday press conference will therefore be closely watched for indications of the political strategy emerging from the 55-day Wamunyoro consultations and his plans for the 2027 General Election.