KANU Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Tony Gachoka has placed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the centre of the opposition’s 2027 presidential calculations, arguing that Mt Kenya votes could be decisive in determining whether Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna can clinch the presidency.
In a post on X on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Gachoka urged supporters of the Linda Mwananchi movement to pay close attention to Sifuna’s remarks, insisting that the senator’s presidential ambitions could hinge on his ability to secure support from Mt Kenya, one of the country’s key voting blocs.
“To LINDA WANAINCHI followers, listen to Edwin Sifuna’s VERY IMPORTANT WORDS below,” Gachoka wrote.
He went on to outline what he described as the regional distribution of votes, assigning Mt Kenya 26 per cent, Mulembe 18 per cent, the Kalenjin community 12 per cent, the Luo community eight per cent and the Kamba community five per cent.
Using those figures, Gachoka argued that Gachagua could be the opposition leader best positioned to help Sifuna assemble a winning coalition.
“Only Rigathi Gachagua can make Sifuna our President 50.1%. No one in the opposition can win without MLIMA votes!” he declared.
His remarks have reignited debate over whether a political partnership between Gachagua and Sifuna could reshape the opposition’s strategy ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua opens door to Sifuna partnership
Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has previously indicated that he would be willing to support Sifuna if opposition leaders reach a consensus on the Nairobi senator as their presidential candidate.
During a meeting with Kenyans in Spokane, United States, in September, the former Deputy President said he was even prepared to serve as Sifuna’s running mate.
“I am ready to even deputise him. He can also deputise me. Sifuna is an equal principal in the united opposition search for a joint candidate,” Gachagua said.
The remarks signalled his willingness to consider different leadership arrangements within a united opposition, although the final presidential ticket remains subject to political negotiations.
Gachagua has also cautioned against rushing the selection of a joint opposition candidate, maintaining that leaders should take time to agree on a figure capable of mounting a credible challenge in 2027.
Mt Kenya votes emerge as coalition battleground
The focus on Mt Kenya reflects the broader challenge facing opposition leaders as they seek to build a national coalition capable of competing against President William Ruto’s political camp.
For Sifuna, whose profile has risen through his association with the Linda Mwananchi movement, the challenge would be to translate his growing political visibility into support beyond his traditional strongholds.
An alliance involving Gachagua could potentially strengthen efforts to attract voters from Mt Kenya while bringing together other regional constituencies.
However, the success of such a partnership would depend on the terms of the alliance, the presidential candidate ultimately selected and the willingness of supporters to rally behind a joint ticket.
Gachoka has consistently backed Sifuna’s presidential ambitions, arguing that cooperation among opposition leaders could alter the political landscape ahead of the next election.
However, the regional voting percentages cited in his post are not a guarantee of how Kenyans will vote in 2027. Voter registration, turnout, campaign issues, candidate popularity and competing political alliances will all influence the final outcome.
As opposition negotiations gather momentum, the central question remains whether Gachagua and Sifuna can turn their apparent political openness into a concrete alliance — and whether such a partnership can secure the broad national support required to win the presidency.
