Gachagua dismisses claims of secret alliance with Ruto
By Faith Lagat, March 27, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has rejected claims that he is President William Ruto’s “political project,” insisting he has no dealings with the head of state and remains focused on unseating him in the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview on March 27, 2026, Gachagua dismissed suggestions of a hidden alliance or backroom arrangement with the president, saying the claims were baseless.
“How could I be working with him on the side? I want to remove him from power, and he is resisting, and he is feeling the heat from me. I cannot work with William Ruto; he is wrong for this country. He is responsible for the hole we are in as a country,” Gachagua stated.
He blamed the current administration for the deterioration of key public programmes, saying their collapse makes cooperation impossible.
“Mwai Kibaki left us a working free education program he has ruined it. We had a good program for varsity finances through HELB, we had a workable health insurance, he ruined it. He has abducted children, and they have been killed. How can I work with such a man? I have no business with him,” he added.
Secret political negotiations
Gachagua’s remarks follow claims from some political figures that he could eventually reconcile with President Ruto ahead of the 2027 elections.
In the most recent remarks adding to the political debate, President William Ruto’s senior economic advisor Moses Kuria claimed that Gachagua is secretly working with the president ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during an interview on March 19, 2026, Kuria said Gachagua is actually President Ruto’s campaign manager for the upcoming polls.
“Do you know who Ruto’s campaign manager is for 2027? Rigathi Gachagua. Yes, he’s the campaign manager,” Kuria asserted.
Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni, in 2025, asserted that the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader had held a private meeting in Narok County with local leaders and clergy to discuss political strategy.
According to Kioni, the meeting involved discussions about potential vote projections and contacts from emissaries linked to the president. He claimed the talks included possible support from the Mount Kenya region as well as alliances with other political leaders.
The citations have fuelled speculation in political circles about shifting alliances as the 2027 election approaches. However, Gachagua has repeatedly dismissed the claims, maintaining that he remains part of the opposition seeking political change.
However, Gachagua’s position has been supported by Democracy for the Citizens Party Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala, who criticised Kioni over the allegations. Malala challenged Kioni to openly support the “Ruto One Term” agenda instead of questioning Gachagua’s commitment to the opposition.
“Our foremost agenda is Ruto One Term. Kioni must stop creating confusion within the movement. He claims that Rigathi Gachagua is Ruto’s man, but can Gachagua truly remain loyal to Ruto? Absolutely not. And just as we cannot remain with William Ruto, neither can he,” Malala said.