Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that the recent Emurua Dikirr by-election, where his Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party candidate garnered close to 11,000 votes, is a clear indication that in the 2027 General Election he will split the Rift Valley vote 50/50 with President William Ruto.

Speaking in London during the first day of his United Kingdom tour in the wee hours of Sunday, May 17, 2026, the DCP leader expressed happiness that his party, which celebrated its first anniversary on Friday, May 15, 2026, has already begun making significant inroads into President Ruto’s Rift Valley stronghold.

“That rift valley I shall split with him half and half, and that is the only place he will get half. Nyanza, where he was relying on Akina Sifuna and the like, has 74 per cent.”

Gachagua continued to launch attacks on his former boss, stating that voters were bribed for the president’s side to secure victory in the by-election.

According to him, the use of money during the mini-poll demonstrates the declining popularity of President Ruto in a region that has traditionally supported him overwhelmingly.

The former deputy president further argued that Rift Valley could be the only region where President Ruto might still secure a sizeable 50 per cent of votes in 2027.

Ruto’s warning on popularity

He claimed that in regions such as Nyanza, which the president has recently been banking on politically, the ground has shifted significantly.

Citing recent TIFA opinion polls, where the Linda Mwananchi team, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna currently enjoys support of up to 74 per cent more than the Linda Ground, which Ruto has been banking on.

Gachagua maintained that President Ruto is currently facing serious political challenges across the country and insisted that, as things stand, the head of state has no clear political escape route ahead of the next general election.

Rotich’s victory

His remarks come just days after he congratulated DCP candidate Vincent Rotich, who garnered 10,760 votes in the Emurua Dikirr mini-poll.

Gachagua described the performance as historic, saying it had reshaped the political landscape of the South Rift region despite the party failing to clinch the seat.

“Congratulations to the DCP PARTY candidate in the Emurua Dikkir by-election, Hon. Vincent Rotich, for the splendid performance that has shaken South Rift politics, which for far too long, in fact for over 60 years, has been left behind in independent Kenya. A score of 10,760 votes is no mean feat,” Gachagua said.