Kenyan opposition leaders Rigathi Gachagua and Fred Matiang’i held a meeting in Aberdeen, Maryland in the United States of America in what has been seen as a pooling together of strategies.
Although both have indicated that their names will be in the ballot as presidential candidates the meeting is an indicator that the emergent opposition is mature enough to work on a joint strategy.
In a brief statement posted on his official social media handle on Saturday, Gachagua described the meeting as a “tête‑à‑tête” and noted that the two had a candid discussion on several issues affecting the country, as well as what he referred to as ‘the liberation cause.’
“During my visit to the USA, I had a tete-a-tete with Dr. Fred Matiangi at Aberdeen, Maryland. We discussed several issues affecting our country, Kenya, and our liberation cause. Our focus remains strong, and our commitment to the people of Kenya is unwavered. God bless Kenya,” Gachagua stated.
Speculation is now rife that the meeting could herald a new political alignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua’s US trip began on July 10 with his arrival in Seattle, Washington, where jubilant diaspora Kenyans warmly greeted him upon landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The tour has included stops in Seattle, Boston, Baltimore, and Maryland, where he and his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, are holding town‑hall meetings, cultural receptions, and investor events.
“This is a major tour for the DCP leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua; he is connecting with Kenyans in the US and seeking input from all segments of the diaspora,” said a source familiar with the trip.
Another source revealed that the meeting not only discussed the possibility of forming an alliance but also how to raise campaign funds from the donor community.
For Fred Okeng’o Matiang’i whose candidacy could pose a more formidable threat to the Kenya Kwanza regime the US tour has been more tactical and discreet affair.
Matiang’i has worked with the World Bank and was at one time former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s pointman overseeing cabinet functions. He holds a more charismatic presence in the political landscape devoid of the empty rhetoric and confusion typical of the current opposition.
His trip, framed as a listening and outreach mission, has taken him to several cities, where he has met with various Kenyan communities, cultural groups, and business leaders.
He has recently been engaging with the diaspora not just to strengthen his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), but also to rally support.
Gachagua’s US trip began on July 10 with his arrival in Seattle, Washington, where jubilant diaspora Kenyans warmly greeted him upon landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The tour has included stops in Seattle, Boston, Baltimore, and Maryland, where he and his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, are holding town‑hall meetings, cultural receptions, and investor events.
“This is a major tour for the DCP leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua; he is connecting with Kenyans in the US and seeking input from all segments of the diaspora,” said a source familiar with the trip.
Both leaders have expressed their aspirations to run for the presidency in the upcoming 2027 General Election
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