Malala Says Gachagua Ready to Back Sifuna
Democracy for the Citizens Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala has declared that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is prepared to support Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for the presidency should the senator emerge as the opposition’s preferred candidate.
The statement was made during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Kakamega on Saturday as political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election continue to take shape. Malala told the gathering that he had been sent with a clear message from Gachagua affirming readiness to back Sifuna.
Addressing supporters, Malala said in Swahili that he carried information from the former deputy president indicating willingness to endorse Sifuna as the next head of state. He then offered his own strong public endorsement, stating that he had come to fulfil the vision of past leaders such as Masinde Muliro and Martin Shikuku. “We have been our own enemies, but I am glad I am going to be part of the generation that stops this, and that is why I am declaring today that this time we have found a leader, and my leader is Edwin Watunya Sifuna. This child of ours is capable of president of the country,” Malala declared.
The remarks align with Malala’s earlier expressions of support for Sifuna while he maintains his ties to Gachagua and the Democracy for the Citizens Party. Gachagua himself has previously spoken positively about the senator’s rallies and indicated that unity within the opposition would take priority. “I'm so delighted about the Sifuna Western meeting; I've called him to tell him well done...I will support Edwin Sifuna if he is the opposition's presidential candidate,” Gachagua has said. Sifuna has likewise shown openness to cooperation despite past political differences, including those surrounding Gachagua’s impeachment.
The latest declaration came only hours after Sifuna appealed to former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for a personal blessing during the same Western tour. The Kakamega engagements formed part of a wider Linda Mwananchi mobilisation drive that brought together Sifuna, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and other leaders seeking to build grassroots momentum. The team has been engaging residents across the region in an effort to expand its support base.
While the comments have added fresh energy to discussions about possible opposition alliances, the broader picture of coalition talks and presidential endorsements remains fluid. Political observers note that positions can shift as negotiations progress and individual ambitions are weighed against the goal of a united front. For the moment, Malala’s announcement has placed Sifuna more prominently in the conversation about alternative leadership options for the country.
