By Anderson Ojwang
The age-old practice of marginal and fringe presidential candidates dominating the contest, even though they add no value and are a recipe for the contest, is finally being challenged.
The usual declaration of presidential bids by political parties and individuals in the hope of being considered by the main players and for optics may eventually come to an end in the 2027 General Election.
Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has declared total war on opposition boardroom presidential aspirants, saying they cannot win the presidency through faith but through work.
The party leader, quoting from the Bible, told opposition presidential candidates that victory does not come through faith but hard work.
“You cannot be president by faith but through hard work. You shall reap the fruits of your labour. The presidency is just like another work,” he said.
Jubilee Party leader Dr Fred Matiang’i recently accused Gachagua of arrogance and pride, warning that his approach to opposition politics could undermine efforts to build a united front against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Matiang’i said the opposition risked losing focus on issues affecting Kenyans if its leadership became dominated by individual ambitions, ethnic considerations and attempts by a few politicians to dictate the direction of the coalition.
“The leadership and future of our country is not to be decided on ethnic balkanisation. I thought that this was a competition of ideas, platforms, track records, competence and qualifications.
“When you wake up and tell me anybody can replace Ruto, it means the problems we have with Ruto are that we are not sitting in that seat ourselves,” he said.
Boardroom presidential candidates
Gachagua took a swipe at his colleagues in the opposition who think the presidency can be won through boardroom meetings and press conferences.
“We cannot give this country’s presidency to a lazy person. You must show us that you are working for the presidency. That you are a guy who is committed to hard work,” he said.
Gachagua said opposition presidential aspirants must go out and persuade the people of Kenya to register and come out to vote.
“I don’t stay in hotels. I have no time, I don’t write letters and I am not a social media person. I am practical. Politics is practical and not theory,” he said.
Riggy not the ladder to the presidency
Gachagua said the misconception among some members of the political class that his noble duty was to spearhead President William Ruto’s defeat and hand over power to them while they sat comfortably would not happen.
“We must adopt practical politics. Yes, I want Ruto to go, and he must. Let no one imagine that my role is to chase Ruto and then I make you president at the comfort of your chair. You are deluded,” he said.
He said there were some people who imagined that Riggy’s work was to chase away Ruto.
“These people should know that even I want to be president. If I supported Ruto and made him president, what stops Riggy from winning the presidency?” he said.
Gachagua said he was a workaholic and urged all opposition presidential aspirants to go out and work for votes.
“Kenyans know I am working. Let nobody think Kenyans are fools. I coined the word Wantam term. Some people want to lecture us,” he said.
Healthy competition
Gachagua told DP Party leader JB Muturi to go out and popularise his party instead of whining.
“Let everyone sell their party. I have seen Muturi complaining that Riggy wants to have a majority of MPs in Mt Kenya.
“I want to confirm to him, it is true. I want to have many governors, senators and MPs. You are not wrong, JB. That is what I am doing, and I am strategic.
“I have not stopped you from selling your party. I have not stopped you from selling DP in Mt Kenya,” he said.
Gachagua said they had recently engaged in a friendly contest in the Ol Kalou by-election, and the results spoke for themselves.
“We competed with Jubilee in Ol Kalou, and the results spoke for themselves,” he said.
Politics of numbers
Gachagua warned the opposition that they could not defeat President Ruto at the ballot with hotel and boardroom strategies without having the numbers.
“When I was away for two months, you were not fighting Ruto. When I returned, I went straight back to work.
“People say we should not talk about numbers. Ruto is working on numbers. Recently, he was in Rift Valley for 11 days to add to his numbers.
“Ruto is looking for numbers. You are in hotels; how do you get numbers? We must have a conversation about numbers,” he said.
Gachagua said it was not about ideas that had failed to translate into victory in recent by-elections.
“It is not about saying that I have ideas. To be president, people must see you, and you must talk to them.
“I am a practical politician. You look for members. I hear some accusing me from the comfort of hotels,” he said.
He challenged his colleagues to go out and mobilise numbers to win the presidency.
“You don’t just sit and wait for the presidency. We do not just give the presidency on a silver platter. It doesn’t matter what ideas you have.
“Talk without an agenda does not win the presidency,” he said.
He said the opposition would unite to have a single presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.
“History is repeating itself. We will agree as the United Opposition to have a single presidential candidate.
“Are you committed to hard work? I am not sleeping. My work is to take Ruto home. I have sacrificed my entire life to take Ruto home,” he said.
Attack
Gachagua wondered why politicians who failed to deliver even votes in their polling stations were attacking him.
“If you cannot even deliver a polling station and you want to lecture Riggy.
“In the Mbeere by-election, your polling station was only able to mobilise 35 people, while Kasongo had 286. You want to lecture me?
“If you cannot deliver a polling station at home, how can you deliver the presidency?
“Kasongo defeated you at your village polling station.
“You want to abuse me that you have an idea on how to remove Kasongo, yet you could not defeat him at your village polling station.
“How can you defeat him in Kenya?” he said.
