“I WILL JUST BOARD A PLANE”: GACHAGUA HINTS AT LEAVING FOR THE US IF OPPOSITION FAILS IN 2027
Gachagua says he could relocate to the US with his family if the opposition loses in 2027, warning that divisions within Mount Kenya could weaken its bid to defeat Ruto.
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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hinted at leaving Kenya for the United States with his family if the opposition fails to defeat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), says his decision could depend partly on whether voters in the Mount Kenya region unite behind a common opposition candidate or allow their support to be divided among competing political interests.
In an interview with a local tv on Sunday night, November 1, Gachagua expressed confidence that the opposition had the numerical strength to win the presidency but warned that internal disagreements could jeopardise its prospects.
“I am convinced that the Opposition will win, if it does not allow itself to be divided,” he said.
He singled out Mount Kenya as a critical factor in the opposition's electoral strategy, arguing that divisions among leaders and voters from the region could weaken the coalition's challenge to Ruto.
Gachagua suggested that he would have little reason to remain in Kenya if the region ignored his calls for unity and allowed its political support to be fragmented.
“If our people allow themselves to be divided, I will just board a plane and go to the US. I have a home there,” he remarked.
He added that he could make the decision even before the election if he became convinced that political leaders from the region were misleading voters.
“If I see that our people have been misled and divided through their own leaders, because I will be woke, I will not be here in Kenya,” he said.
The former Deputy President maintained that he had already made considerable efforts to bring the region's political leaders and supporters together, insisting that he would not take responsibility if those efforts failed.
“I have tried to unite the region, so no one will ask me any question. No one will ask me the reason for fleeing. I will just go to America with my people because I have a home there,” he added.
His comments come after an extended stay in the United States, where he engaged Kenyans living abroad and spent time at his residence. Gachagua departed Kenya on August 26 and returned on October 20, 2026.
His latest remarks also come amid growing competition for political influence in Mount Kenya, a region whose voting patterns could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the 2027 presidential race.
Besides Gachagua, other leaders seeking to shape the region's political direction include People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who heads the People's Party of Kenya.
With the opposition yet to agree on a joint presidential candidate, Gachagua's statement adds to the pressure on its leaders to resolve their differences and establish a common strategy before the next election.
For now, his proposed move to America remains conditional on the political outcome he anticipates. But the declaration underscores how closely he has tied his political future to the question of Mount Kenya unity and the opposition's prospects in 2027.
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Written by FRANKLINE NYANDORO
Reporter and staff writer at Getembe News.
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