Gachagua says he is now aiming for State House in 2027, after earlier talk of backing Ruto to 2032

A statement attributed to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is drawing attention online. According to a headline circulating on social media, he said he had promised to support President William Ruto until 2032 but now expects to be president in 2027.

The remark appears alongside a video on Gachagua's official Facebook page, captioned "Through Partnership with the Diaspora, we shall bridge the gap on employment." The caption points to the diaspora and jobs as themes of the event. The exact wording of the quote, and where and when it was said, should be confirmed from the original video.

Gachagua announced on September 14, 2025, in Nyeri that he would run for president in 2027. By January 2026, as Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, he was touring the Mt Kenya region and repeating that Ruto should serve only one term. In July 2026 he also said he would step aside for another candidate if that was what it took to unite the opposition and remove Ruto. 'No lies, no false promises': Gachagua launches bid to unseat Ruto +2

The 2032 claim has been disputed before. During the 2022 campaign, Gachagua said his arrangement with Ruto was a five-year performance contract and that he had not agreed to back Ruto after his ten-year term. Later, a Mt Kenya politician, Mr Wamumbi, said he had personally advised Gachagua to submit to Ruto's presidency until 2032 before pursuing his own ambitions. peopledaily nation

Allies of President Ruto have consistently downplayed opposition unification efforts, expressing confidence in the government's record and its prospects in 2027. peopledaily

Source: Gachagua's official Facebook page and published reports.