Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has thrown his support behind Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s newly unveiled political party, urging him to move with speed to build a strong national outfit ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), congratulated Sifuna following the Sunday launch of The Equitable Party (TEP), which has adopted the senator as its preferred presidential candidate.
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In a message after the launch, Gachagua described the development as an important step in Sifuna’s political journey and encouraged his supporters to rally behind the new party.
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“My cousin, Senator Edwin Sifuna, congratulations are in order on the launch of your political party today. Democracy must prevail,” Gachagua said.
He urged Sifuna to immediately begin marketing TEP and identifying strong candidates in areas where the party has political support.
Gachagua also called on supporters of Sifuna to join the party and seek elective positions under its ticket, arguing that a strong parliamentary presence would be necessary for the opposition to implement its agenda if it forms the next administration.
Gachagua links TEP to wider opposition strategy
The DCP leader’s remarks place Sifuna’s new party within a wider effort by opposition figures to organise ahead of the 2027 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Gachagua said the emergence of TEP had made the opposition’s plans to establish what he referred to as the “sixth administration” more defined.
According to him, winning the presidency alone would not be enough. The political formation would also require a majority in both Houses of Parliament to pass and implement its legislative programme.
“I am very encouraged that the journey to form the 6th Administration is becoming more defined, as we need a majority of Members of Parliament in the two Houses to prosecute our legislative agenda,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president has previously indicated that opposition leaders should be prepared to support whichever candidate is ultimately considered best positioned to challenge President William Ruto.
In September, Gachagua said he would even be willing to serve as Sifuna’s running mate if political calculations showed that Sifuna offered the strongest opposition ticket.
Sifuna takes over TEP
Sifuna unveiled TEP in Nairobi on Sunday, formally giving his presidential ambitions a political vehicle ahead of the 2027 election.
Party leader Gilbert Marava announced that the organisation would restructure its leadership to accommodate Sifuna and his supporters, with Sifuna expected to become party leader and seek the presidency under its ticket.
TEP was registered in March 2022 under the slogan “Tusawazishe.” Its leadership has now agreed to reorganise the party around Sifuna’s political project.
The move follows months of political uncertainty surrounding Sifuna’s next step after his fallout with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Sifuna had previously been a leading figure in ODM and served as the party’s secretary-general before his political relationship with the party leadership deteriorated. He subsequently became increasingly associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has brought together politicians opposed to the Ruto administration.
New party adds to opposition calculations
The launch of TEP has also introduced another political vehicle into an already crowded opposition landscape.
Several opposition figures have their own parties or political formations, including Gachagua’s DCP and Wiper, while other leaders have been associated with different political movements.
The Star reported that Sifuna’s decision could complicate efforts to settle on a single opposition candidate, even as leaders at the launch repeatedly called for unity.
Among those who attended the TEP launch were Siaya Governor James Orengo, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Senators Godfrey Osotsi, Richard Onyonka and Boni Khalwale, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
Speakers at the event stressed the need for the opposition to remain united rather than allowing competing presidential ambitions to divide the movement.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi said the new party would operate around a single leadership structure and presidential candidate, putting Sifuna’s 2027 bid at the centre of the political project.
Gachagua’s “WANTAM” message
Gachagua ended his message to Sifuna with a direct political declaration about the 2027 contest, saying there would be “no escape route” for the current administration and invoking the opposition slogan “WANTAM and Round ONE.”
The remarks underline the increasingly open positioning of opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
While Gachagua has his own presidential ambitions, his recent statements have repeatedly left open the possibility of supporting another opposition candidate if political numbers point in that direction.
The former deputy president has previously said he could deputise Sifuna, while also maintaining that Sifuna could serve as his running mate or deputise Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka depending on the eventual political arithmetic.
For now, Sifuna’s TEP launch gives him a formal political platform from which to build his presidential campaign, while Gachagua’s endorsement signals an interest in bringing the new party into the broader opposition strategy ahead of 2027.
The key question now is whether the various opposition parties and presidential aspirants can agree on a common political arrangement while maintaining their individual parties and ambitions.
