Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has openly declared that his greatest regret ahead of the 2027 general election would be missing the chance to directly face President William Ruto in the presidential debates.
Speaking on Friday, September 26, 2025, during Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party (PLP) special national delegates meeting, Gachagua said the debates would provide him with the ultimate platform to challenge Ruto’s record, expose his weaknesses, and outshine him before the nation.
“I will have only one disappointment if I am not chosen, just one, which is that I will miss the opportunity to face President William Ruto in the presidential debates. Because if I face him in the debates, I will roast him so badly,” Gachagua remarked.
Despite ongoing court battles, Gachagua reaffirmed his eligibility to contest in 2027. However, he stressed that his personal ambitions are secondary to the broader opposition agenda. He pledged full support for whichever candidate the opposition settles on, including Karua, whom he praised for her integrity and leadership qualities.
“Martha, I want to assure you that if you convince us you are the candidate, I will campaign for you the way I campaigned for Ruto,” he said, adding that his supporters would rally behind the opposition’s chosen flag bearer.
Gachagua also highlighted the need for opposition candidates to embody credibility and integrity, contrasting this with what he described as the failures of the current administration. He cited Karua as a leader who cannot “steal from Kenyans or order violence against citizens.”
At the same event, Gachagua echoed Karua’s call for opposition aspirants—including Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and himself—to vigorously campaign, sell their visions, and allow the people to decide who is best positioned to challenge Ruto. Ultimately, he emphasized unity, saying the opposition must agree on a single candidate for 2027.
Meanwhile, leaders from the Mt. Kenya region have already thrown their weight behind Gachagua’s potential candidacy, signaling a brewing political realignment ahead of the elections.
