Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed his strategy to push for by-elections before the 2027 general elections as part of his broader plan to build a stronger opposition.
Speaking in an interview with KTN News journalist Jesse Rodgers on Monday, February 24, Gachagua disclosed that several lawmakers had approached him, expressing their desire to leave President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and join his new political party.
According to Gachagua, these lawmakers, including well-known Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators, would resign from UDA and seek re-election through by-elections under his new party. However, he explained that he had deliberately delayed unveiling the party for strategic reasons, mainly due to the pending reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“Our political party is fully prepared, but for strategic reasons, I decided not to launch it before May. One of the main reasons is that we need the IEBC to be in place first,” Gachagua stated.
He further revealed that a significant number of politicians were eager to switch parties, and once the IEBC was operational, his party would be officially unveiled. “A good number of Senators and MPs are ready to leave UDA, join our new party, and face by-elections. We will make the announcement as soon as the IEBC is reconstituted,” he added.
As of February this year, Gachagua claimed that at least 139 Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) had already committed their support to his new party and were prepared to resign from UDA to seek fresh mandates under his leadership.
The former Deputy President explained that his decision to form a new political party was the result of extensive consultations with various leaders across the country. He initially planned to conclude the discussions by December last year but had to extend them to February due to the overwhelming interest from politicians willing to join his movement.
Speaking about his future political ambitions, Gachagua disclosed that he planned to meet former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to seek advice on building and sustaining a formidable political party.
“I intend to visit the ODM party for benchmarking. I must sit down with Raila Odinga and learn how he built such a strong political machine. I have two years to establish my own,” he stated.
Reflecting on his past political choices, Gachagua admitted that he felt deceived by President Ruto and vowed to ensure that any future political coalition he joins would be based on a solid and binding agreement.
“In any coalition we form with anyone, I will make sure our interests are well protected through a watertight agreement. One of the heaviest burdens I carry is the regret of being deceived by Ruto. Sometimes, I feel foolish for having trusted him,” he concluded.
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