The Service Party Leader (TSP) and Laikipia East Member of Parliament, Mwangi Kiunjuri, has challenged Democracy for the Citizens Party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, to declare if he will be on the ballot for the top seat during the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview with a local vernacular TV station on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Kiunjuri called on the DCP party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, to come out openly on his eligibility to vie for the presidential seat during the 2027 general elections. K

Kiunjuri has said that the former deputy president is not eligible to run for the presidential office owing to his impeachment as the deputy president, which limits his credibility to vie. Kiunjuri insists that Gachagua can only be eligible to run for the top seat in 2034.

“Rigathi says he listens to the ground. Why does he selectively listen to the ground? If he really listens to the ground, let him tell us in the first place whether he will be vying for the presidential position in 2027,” Kiunjuri said.

The Laikipia East lawmaker has disputed Rigathi’s remarks that he commands the Mount Kenya region voting bloc. Kiunjuri insists that Rigathi has gone ahead to dispute other parties in the United Opposition by telling the people to elect candidates from the DCP party, ignoring other parties aligned with the United Opposition.

“When I listen to the ground, Mount Kenya people say that they cannot elect Rigathi as president but have approved him to oppose President William Ruto. Tell the people that you will not vie in 2027 and 2032. Tell them that you can only be eligible to vie in 2034, and therefore, the only elections you can vie for will be in 2037,” he added.

Kiunjuri, an ally of President Ruto, has called on the Mount Kenya region to elect people not based on political affiliation but on personalities and the ability to deliver to the people.

Kiunjuri has further disputed the United Opposition for conducting their campaigns in selective regions and has called on them to be bold enough to spread their campaigns in the country, away from their backyards, if they want to challenge President Ruto’s re-election.

Kiunjuri has said that President Ruto’s campaign is in all parts of the country. Kiunjuri says this gives Ruto an upper hand over the united opposition, which makes his reelection bid easier.