Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua projects that the opposition and President William Ruto will split the Rift Valley region’s votes down the middle in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during his tour of the United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday, May 16, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader pointed to the recent Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election as proof that the president is losing his grip on his political backyard. Gachagua claimed that the state had to buy off local voters to secure a win for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, though a substantial number still backed the DCP alternative.
“We had a by-election in a place called Emura Dikirr, that is Ruto’s supposed bedroom; he had to bribe people at home to vote for UDA, and 11,000 people took his money and voted against him. I can tell you that in the Rift Valley, we shall split the votes with Ruto half- half and that is the only place he will get half,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President also claimed that the Head of State has lost his footing in the Nyanza region to the Linda Mwananchi team.
“Nyanza, where he was relying on Sifuna and his group, we already have 74 percent. The guy is in total trouble. Sometimes I feel sorry for him. He was once my person, but when I remember how Kenyans have suffered, I say it is okay,” added Gachagua.
His remarks follow the recent Emurua Dikirr constituency by-election, where UDA’s David Keter clinched victory. Keter garnered 18,266 votes in the mini-poll, defeating DCP’s Wincent Rotich, who secured a strong second place with 10,760 votes.
In a statement following the by-election, Gachagua praised Rotich’s performance, framing the loss as a major political breakthrough in the South Rift region.
“Congratulations to the DCP candidate in the Emurua Dikkir by-election, Vincent Rotich, for the splendid performance that has shaken South Rift politics, who, for far too long, in fact for over 60 years, has been left behind in independent Kenya. A score of 10,760 votes is no mean feat,” said Gachagua.
Gachagua expressed his excitement over the results, noting that the strong second-place finish establishes the DCP Party as a rising political force within the Rift Valley region.
