Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said he will return to his Wamunyoro home after completing his Western Kenya tour, marking what he describes as a new phase of consultations and political planning following the recent High Court ruling that upheld his impeachment but awarded him damages for violation of his right to a fair hearing.

Speaking during and after his engagements in Western Kenya, Gachagua framed the decision as a planned step back from rallies rather than a withdrawal from politics. He said the next phase will focus on internal discussions, legal strategy, and efforts to build a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 general election.

His comments come as the political temperature rises in Kenya’s opposition space, where leaders are trying to reorganise ahead of a possible direct contest with President William Ruto.

Wamunyoro returns to centre stage

Gachagua’s Western Kenya tour ended with rallies, church visits, and political meetings where he pushed his message of unity within the opposition. He positioned himself as part of a broader push to consolidate anti-government forces under what he calls a “united alternative government” structure.

This effort is part of a wider opposition realignment that includes leaders such as Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Cleophas Malala, and other regional figures who have been holding parallel consultations. Gachagua has repeatedly framed these engagements as steps toward building a single, formidable opposition bloc capable of mounting a credible challenge to President William Ruto in 2027.

He said the tour helped strengthen his political network and build support for ongoing consultations on leadership structure. According to him, the focus now shifts away from public rallies and towards structured engagements with advisers and grassroots leaders.

“From Monday, I’ll come to Wamunyoro village for 45 days to start exhaustive and extensive consultations with my supporters and opinion leaders and stakeholders on the formula of identifying a single presidential candidate to face President William Ruto,” he said.

The statement reflects a clear attempt to reorganise opposition politics around one central decision: who will challenge the sitting president in 2027.

Gachagua has consistently argued that opposition fragmentation weakened previous attempts to challenge the government. His new push centres on finding a single candidate acceptable to different blocs within the opposition.

During his Western tour, he said he received encouragement from local leaders and residents who, in his view, support a more coordinated opposition strategy.

“The mountain is united,” he said in earlier remarks, referring to his political base and allies. “We now have a strong party with support across the country.”

He also pointed to his party, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), as Mt Kenya’s main vehicle for coordination going forward. The party, he said, continues to expand through consultations held in different regions since his removal from office in 2024.

Legal pressure and 2027 calculation

Gachagua’s retreat to Wamunyoro also follows a politically sensitive court ruling. The High Court upheld his impeachment but awarded him Ksh50 million for violation of fair hearing rights. He rejected the outcome and said his legal team has already filed instructions for an appeal.

“We shall proceed with an appeal at the Court of Appeal on the decision and hope that justice shall prevail,” he said.

He argued that the ruling created contradictions in constitutional interpretation, insisting that findings of unfair process should have nullified the entire impeachment.

“It is lost on all of us how actions found unconstitutional can then be upheld as valid,” he said.

Beyond the legal arguments, the ruling has shaped how he structures his political response. His move to Wamunyoro is widely seen as a way to manage both legal pressure and political coordination in a controlled environment.

He insists that his eligibility to run for office remains intact until all legal processes are completed.

“There is no legal barrier to my candidature unless and until all appeals are completed,” he said. “I will be on the ballot in 2027.”

This position places him directly within the early phase of succession politics, where opposition leaders are already testing alliances and messaging.

In Western Kenya, he also used his platform to criticise aspects of government conduct, including police handling of opposition meetings. He warned that continued disruption of political gatherings could create tension ahead of elections.

“Niseme hili ni jambo la kukera sana na linaweza kuleta vurugu tukielekea uchaguzi,” he said, warning that political frustration could escalate if democratic space shrinks.

He further accused state actors of targeting opposition gatherings, claims that have been rejected by government officials.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has defended the impeachment process, saying Gachagua was given an adequate opportunity to respond during Senate proceedings. He also confirmed that the Senate will appeal parts of the High Court ruling.

“He chose, as most impeached persons do when they appear before the Senate, to deploy delay tactics. We said no,” Cheruiyot said.

Wamunyoro’s strategy and the opposition question

Wamunyoro has become more than a personal residence in Gachagua’s political messaging. It now serves as a symbolic base for consultations, strategy sessions, and coalition-building talks.

He says earlier engagements at the same location brought together thousands of participants, including youth leaders, professionals, clergy, and business figures. These consultations, he argues, contributed to the formation of his current political direction.

Many view the Wamunyoro retreat as a strategic pause rather than political silence. It gives him space to rebuild alliances after court setbacks and reposition himself in a fast-moving opposition landscape.

Supporters say the move allows for deeper planning away from public rallies. Critics, however, argue it reflects a tactical regrouping after legal and political setbacks.

What is clear is that the next 45 days will be critical for his political direction. If successful, the consultations could produce a clearer opposition framework for 2027. If not, they may expose divisions within the emerging coalition he is trying to build.

For now, Gachagua appears focused on turning Wamunyoro into a political coordination hub, where legal battles, opposition strategy, and succession politics converge in one place.