Showdown looms as Gachagua, Ruto set twin rallies in Western
Politics
By
Standard Team
| Jun 13, 2026
President Ruto to launch Sacco meeting as opposition holds public rally in the Kakamega.Opposition coalition has vowed to unite against Ruto’s re-election bid.
A political showdown is looming in Kakamega today as President William Ruto and the United Opposition, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, take their fierce rivalry to the heart of the vote-rich Western region.
The competing tours set the stage for a high-stakes political contest in a region widely expected to influence the outcome of the 2027 General Election.
The two camps are expected to hold separate rallies barely five kilometres apart in Kakamega town.
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President Ruto will preside over the launch of the Shirikiana Sacco delegates’ meeting at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, while Gachagua and his allies will storm the town centre for a major public rally marking his first significant political outing since the High Court ruling on his high-profile impeachment case.
The opposition, led by Gachagua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, kicked off its charm offensive in Western Kenya with a rally in Luanda Town, Vihiga County, yesterday. They reaffirmed their commitment to forging a united front in the next General Election.
The rally brought together DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, among others.
“We have a common mission to ensure President Ruto serves only one term, and we must agree on one of us to remove him through the ballot in 2027,” Gachagua said.
Despite a court decision upholding his impeachment, Gachagua said that, should the coalition choose him as its presidential candidate, he would be ready to challenge President Ruto at the ballot.
He said a 60-member advisory caucus comprising elders, professionals, youth representatives and clergy had advised that the phase of political mobilisation against the Kenya Kwanza administration was complete, and that the coalition should now focus on selecting its presidential flagbearer.
The opposition criticised the government over the economy, governance and what it termed the continued neglect of Western Kenya.
Gachagua accused Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of failing to use their positions in government to advance the interests of the region.
“Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have been sitting at the government’s high table, but have not fought for the interests of Western Kenya. The region deserves leaders who can negotiate for jobs, industries, infrastructure and resources that improve the lives of ordinary citizens,” he said.
Kalonzo described the coalition as “the real change the region deserves” and accused the government of betraying Western Kenya through the collapse of local industries in a region long regarded as an opposition stronghold.
Governor Natembeya reiterated his “Tawe” movement—a Luhya word meaning “No”—saying the region must continue rejecting corruption, poor governance and political complacency.
Speaking during economic empowerment programmes in Butere and Ikolomani constituencies, President Ruto’s allies, including Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and his deputy Ayub Savula, dismissed the opposition.
“I want to tell our people that the United Opposition has no agenda, and its leaders, who have been in government for many years, have not helped improve the lives of our people,” Barasa said.
[Reports by Brian Kisanji, Mary Imenza and Benard Lusigi]