Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya has dismissed fallout claims after the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced his presidential bid.

While appearing on a morning show on a local TV station on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Gakuya said that Gachagua’s announcement of his interest in the top seat does not mean that he has ditched the united opposition.

He went further to state that each leader within the united opposition announcing their interest in the presidency is a strategic move to confuse their opponents since the opponent they are dealing with, President William Ruto, who will be seeking re-election in 2027, is not an easy person to tackle, and it is unwise to expose all their strategies.

Gakuya noted that each candidate going out individually in search of support does not mean that the movement is divided or has cracks.

He added that at the appropriate time, they will all converge, shelve their personal interests, and support one candidate who will face President William Ruto in the 2027 elections. According to him, the principals have opted to keep that opportune moment a secret.

He explained that there is no problem with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i moving around the country looking for votes, or Kalonzo Musyoka and other politicians with the opposition doing the same, but insisted that the convergence stage must remain a secret.

He argued that, as wise politicians and a wise opposition intending to push Ruto out of power, they should not put all their cards on the table.

“Their is no problem, Matiang’i is moving around the country looking for votes; Kalonzo is doing the same. but this thing must be sure that their is a convergence stage, and that stage is what should remain a secret, because as a wise politician and a wise opposition, if they intending to push ruto out power they should not put all their cards on the table.”

Gachagua announces his bid

This comes days after the former deputy president announced his willingness to vie for the top seat in 2027.

While speaking during a church service in Nyeri County on Sunday, September 14, 2025, he stated that Kenyans have overwhelmingly endorsed him as the most suitable candidate to unseat President William Ruto, and that is why he had returned to his backyard to seek blessings from his people before embarking on the long journey of traversing the country in pursuit of support.

He vowed that should he be elected in 2027, he will ensure that the country returns to where the late President Mwai Kibaki left it by spurring economic growth.