- The ex-deputy president’s U.S. tour has fuelled Kenya’s political discourse
- His return comes as 24 by-elections loom, seen as a test of strength against President Ruto
NAIROBI, KENYA – Former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has cut short his month-long U.S. visit, thrusting himself back into the country’s heated political arena as a surprise force in the opposition.
Gachagua, who was impeached in October last year and has since emerged as one of President William Ruto’s fiercest critics, announced his return on August 14. The decision followed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s declaration that more than 24 by-elections will be held on November 27, setting the stage for a critical showdown ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Despite departing on July 9 for a two-month tour to engage the Kenyan diaspora, Gachagua’s presence in domestic politics barely dimmed. His speeches in American cities – laced with accusations that Ruto’s administration had abandoned its promises – became ammunition for both allies and rivals.
In Baltimore, Maryland, on July 25, Gachagua accused the government of presiding over “state capture.”
“This is not the Kenya we voted for in 2022. The promises have been broken, and the people are suffering while a few enrich themselves,” he declared.
In New Jersey, he took aim at the government’s economic management. “The hustler dream has collapsed. Instead of empowering ordinary citizens, the government is taxing them into destitution,” he said.
The remarks ignited sharp responses from Nairobi. Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and longtime opposition figure Raila Odinga all branded Gachagua a “tribalist,” while Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed him as “an embarrassment to the country.”
“This is the same man who, not long ago, defended every government decision. He should focus on his cases in court instead of tarnishing Kenya’s image abroad,” Murkomen said.
Rising as a new opposition figure
Analysts say Gachagua’s exile-style critique has reshaped Kenya’s political narrative. Ojera Wasonga, a Nairobi-based political analyst, argues that Gachagua has effectively supplanted Odinga as the opposition’s leading voice.
“Gachagua is the man of the moment. He is able to face Ruto because he knows him deeply, having been his deputy. He is aware of what is going on in his government, as he still has his networks,” Wasonga told Allen Dreyfus.
Others urge caution. “While Gachagua may be enjoying the political limelight for now, we still have about two years before the 2027 elections,” said political commentator Lee Makwiny.
“Ruto is an equally shrewd politician. He may be studying Gachagua and his allies before unleashing a political missile.”
By-elections to set the tone for 2027
Gachagua is expected to return to Kenya on August 21 to prepare for the November by-elections. The contests, analysts say, will serve as a litmus test of whether his defiance can be translated into electoral strength against Ruto and his new ally, Raila Odinga.
The stakes are high. With Kenya struggling with high inflation, joblessness, and growing investor unease, the by-elections could signal how much traction Gachagua’s populist messaging has gained among voters – and whether he has the potential to disrupt East Africa’s largest economy ahead of the next general election.
