Things are boiling nicely: Gachagua hails Linda Mwananchi rally

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has hailed the huge turnout at Sunday’s Linda Mwananchi rally in Nairobi, saying the mobilisation demonstrated the opposition’s growing strength ahead of the 2027 general election.

The former deputy president said he had followed the events in Nairobi and was pleased by the crowds mobilised by the Edwin Sifuna-led movement.

“I was following what was happening earlier in the day on Sunday. Oh, things are very good. Things are boiling very nicely,” Gachagua said during an interdenominational fellowship in Portland City, Oregon, in the US.

Linda Mwananchi’s inaugural Nairobi rally drew large crowds and brought parts of the city to a standstill as the leaders’ convoy moved from the Central Business District to Jacaranda Grounds in Eastlands.

The leaders first attended a Sunday service at Holy Family Basilica before proceeding through Marikiti market, Gikomba, Burma, Jogoo Road, Manyanja Road and B Centre, culminating in a packed Jacaranda Grounds.

The rally was led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi and Siaya Governor James Orengo.

The leaders said the reception demonstrated growing public support for a change of leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to presenting a single candidate against President William Ruto in 2027.

Gachagua particularly praised the organisers for mobilising a large crowd without reported incidents of chaos or violence.

“They had one of the biggest rallies ever done in the city of Nairobi and I’m so happy because the city of Nairobi has 2.7 million voters. Between myself, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka, Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino, Nairobi is locked,” he said.

Gachagua projected that the opposition could secure 2.5 million presidential votes in Nairobi, while dismissing Ruto’s chances of making significant gains in the capital.

“If William Ruto gets 10,000 votes, he will have prayed to God day and night. Nairobi is locked and UDA and ODM will not get a single seat in the city of Nairobi,” he said.

He said the Nairobi mobilisation was part of a wider opposition effort to consolidate support across the country before negotiations on who will lead the coalition in 2027.

As Linda Mwananchi leaders mobilised in Nairobi, Gachagua said DCP officials led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu were campaigning in Othaya and Mathioya in Murang’a to strengthen the opposition’s support base.

He said rallies led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa in Tana River and Peter Munya in Meru also attracted huge crowds.

“As they were doing that, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa were in Tana River — thousands of Kenyans shouting wantam. My brother Peter Munya was in Meru with thousands again shouting wantam, so the whole country has decided,” he said.

Gachagua urged opposition leaders to prioritise grassroots mobilisation instead of spending time negotiating over who should lead the alliance.

He said the opposition would meet next year for the simple task of choosing a single presidential candidate after completing the nationwide mobilisation.

“Don’t waste time in hotels asking who will lead Kenya, it’s a waste of time. First go and consolidate people against William Ruto. When we finish the consolidation next year we sit down and ask, ‘all these people we have consolidated, who will lead them?’ What is being done today is what is important and what is urgent and what is difficult,” he said.

Gachagua is currently on a 50-day tour of the US, where he is holding town hall meetings and public forums with Kenyans living in the diaspora as he seeks to build support for his new party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He has previously presented himself as the strongest candidate to challenge Ruto but has also said he would support a stronger opposition candidate.