By Anderson Ojwang
Kenyans can now have a possible glimpse of the opposition presidential candidate after the party leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Rigathi Gachagua, revealed at a meeting in the USA with Kenyans in the Diaspora.
Back at home, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi warned the Luhya community that a wave would not land their son, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the presidency.
Gachagua said they will blend the opposition ticket to comprise youth and experience to deliver the presidency to the opposition.
“If we do our arithmetic and Sifuna is the person to take President William Ruto home, I am ready to support him,” he said.
Gachagua said he was ready to deputize Sifuna and even the Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, could deputize Linda Mwananchi presidential candidate.
He said the reverse of Sifuna deputizing him or Kalonzo was also a reality in the offing.
“There is no problem, even I, Riggy, I can deputize Sifuna. Is there any problem? I am saying even Sifuna can deputize me or even Kalonzo. Kalonzo can deputize Sifuna. You will like it. Even Sifuna can deputize Kalonzo. I see a solution where we can blend youthful energy and experience for our country,” he said.
Gachagua said they will announce the presidential flag bearer either in March or April and that there was no hurry.
“We have the best formula for identifying the candidate. Don’t be in a hurry. Former President, the late Mwai Kibaki, was agreed on as a single presidential candidate when it was only two months to the election,” he said.
He said they still have 11 months to the election and that the deadline for naming a presidential candidate is in May.
“There is no hurry. We have agreed to consolidate our backyard and then we will sit to agree on the candidate. That is the easiest part, and the most difficult is to stay alive,” he said.
No Wave to Presidency
Mudavadi said the much-talked-about political wave will not propel Sifuna to the presidency as he lacked the party structure.
“You people say that it will be a wave; it is not going to work. You go to a rally and marketplace on a market day and think you have the people,” he said.
He said it was 11 months to the next general election and Sifuna doesn’t even have a political party and expects to win the presidency.
“You have no political structure. How can we be swayed by that kind of a thing? Who have you left behind, and what structures have you left behind?
Who will go to the people? You are not clear which is your party, and it’s 10 months to go, and you cannot build a party with a national footprint. It is not easy, and you cannot build it in months,” he said.
He wondered whether Sifuna has time to cover the 47 counties to campaign and popularize his candidature.
“Let’s talk and say the truth. We have 47 counties. Will you visit them now, and how many weekends are left? So even if you were to do one county per weekend, it will not be possible. That is why we are saying you need a party with a footprint,” he said.
Meeting
He said the Luhya community must engage in a serious conversation on the future political realignment.
“We as Luhya, we must ask ourselves, if we were to move very fast, you need to be part of a party which has got a national footprint.
We are not going to be far but near it by aligning with a party with a national footprint,” he said.
Mudavadi said he will be attending the December 26th meeting spearheaded by COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli to chart the future of the community.
“On December 26th, Mzee Atwoli will speak to the Luhya, and I will be in attendance. Because as a community, we must say something about the coming election,” he said.
Atwoli had earlier claimed that he holds the key to the Luhya community and no leader from the region can emerge without his blessings.
He also warned that nobody can pretend to say they lead the Luhya community without him knowing and blessing.
“I want to tell you that someone cannot say he wants to be the leader of the Luhya community without me knowing. I want to be honest with you,” he said.
Atwoli said Bukhungu III will be a turning point in the Luhya community’s political dispensation.
“I want to warn and tell you there is Bukhungu III coming up on December 26th, 2026. If you want to traverse Western, you are free to do so, but after 26th, we will lock the region. We will lock it up,” he said.
The SG said President Ruto had initiated several development projects in Luhya land and that they could not afford to support the opposition.
“If you look at various development programs and the billions of shillings pumped into them by the government. Look at our Kakamega Stadium and the roads.
Do not join the group propagating the wave movement,” he said.
Mt Kenya Support
Gachagua said it would be the easiest decision for Mt Kenya to make to support Sifuna’s presidency rather than Ruto.
“It is easier to support Sifuna than Ruto. Sifuna is my cousin. It is a family affair. He has no baggage, and that is why the community will rally behind him,” he said.
