Gachagua is opposition’s best viable path to beat Ruto – TIFA
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 24, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s best opportunity to help the opposition defeat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election may not be by leading the opposition ticket but by supporting the coalition’s strongest presidential candidate, according to the latest Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) survey.
The poll, released on Friday, July 24, 2026, found that a majority of Kenyans opposed to President Ruto’s re-election are prioritising opposition unity over individual political ambitions.
According to the survey, 62 per cent of respondents who oppose Ruto’s re-election believe Gachagua should support the strongest opposition candidate rather than insist on leading the coalition himself.
“Nearly two-thirds (62%) believe Gachagua should support the strongest opposition candidate, compared with just 14% who want him to lead the opposition ticket. The findings indicate that anti-Ruto voters are primarily focused on maximising the opposition’s chances of victory, regardless of who heads the coalition,” TIFA said.
Breaking down the findings, 33 per cent said Gachagua should support another opposition candidate if the courts clear him to contest the election, while 29 per cent said that if he is not allowed to contest, he should throw his weight behind the opposition flagbearer. Combined, the two groups account for the 62 per cent who favour a united opposition strategy.
Only 14 per cent of respondents said Gachagua should become the main opposition presidential candidate if the courts allow him to contest the election. Meanwhile, 5 per cent believed Ruto cannot be defeated regardless of the opposition’s strategy, while 19 per cent were undecided.
TIFA summary
Summarising the findings, TIFA said the results show that anti-Ruto voters are more interested in maximising the opposition’s chances of victory than in who eventually heads the coalition.
The findings come as Gachagua continues to consolidate support through his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) while engaging other opposition leaders in discussions aimed at forming a united front ahead of the 2027 polls.
Gachagua’s legal woes
The survey also comes against the backdrop of ongoing legal proceedings challenging Gachagua’s impeachment. TIFA noted that uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the court process remains one of the factors shaping the political landscape ahead of next year’s election.
The survey was conducted between June 13 and June 22, 2026, through face-to-face interviews with 2,048 randomly selected Kenyan adults across all 47 counties.