Speaking to a delegation from Nyeri at his Wamunyoro home on Tuesday, Gachagua acknowledged disagreements within the opposition but dismissed them as a threat to its resolve. He said leaders differed over how to pursue the presidential nomination, with some doing more than others to build their campaigns.
“Hapo opposition tuko na disagreement kidogo kidogo. Lakini hio haiwezi badilisha our resolve. Kuna mahali tunadiffer vile ya kutafuta uongozi. Kuna wale wako kwa mahoteli. Wengine wako kwa bini zao,” he said
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader said the coalition would not award its ticket based on a candidate’s prominence. Instead, he said, contenders must earn support and build a substantial voter base.
“Mimi nimewaambia ata ukuwe na na umaarufu kiasi gani. Kura lazima utafute. Haiwezipangiwa kwa mahoteli. Haiwezipangiwa kwa ma TV,” Gachagua said.
“It doesn’t matter how beautiful you are. For you to win, you must persuade the 50+1. There is no other way to be president.”
Gachagua argued that a candidate’s profile and political experience would count for little without a strong following.
“Politics is a game of numbers. The science of politics is numbers. We are anticipating we’re going to have 26 million voters. Lazima tutafute 23 million plus one. Na hizo numbers lazima utafute,” he said.
“You must go out there and persuade the people of Kenya that you have what it takes. Hizo numbers ata ukiwa na bloggers kiasi Gani wanakuita the 6th. It cannot translate to numbers.”
The former deputy president said aspirants must earn the ticket and that any administration formed after a 2027 election victory should be built on merit rather than popularity. He added that those who join the government should share similar values and ideas.
Several opposition figures have declared interest in the presidency, including Jubilee’s Fred Matiang’i, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Linda Mwananchi’s Edwin Sifuna, and PLP’s Martha Karua.
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