Former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi has reignited the contest for the leadership of Kenya's opposition by declaring that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is carrying the heaviest political burden in the campaign against President William Ruto's administration.
The remarks, made on Thursday, come at a time when the opposition is grappling with a delicate question that could define the 2027 General Election: who should emerge as the coalition's presidential standard-bearer.
While opposition leaders have publicly insisted that unity comes before individual ambition, Mr Havi's intervention has thrust Mr Gachagua's growing political profile back into the spotlight, arguing that leadership should be earned through visible political work rather than negotiated behind closed doors.
"Rigathi Gachagua is single-handedly holding delegations at Wamunyoro and conducting meet-the-people tours daily from 6am to 6pm. If the pecking order and precedent of leadership in the Opposition are to be shared equally, then let others who make that claim demonstrate the equal burden they bear in mobilising voters and shaping public opinion," Mr Havi said.
His comments are significant because they revive an argument that has quietly simmered within opposition ranks since Mr Gachagua's dramatic fallout with President Ruto.
Since leaving government, the former Deputy President has transformed his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County into a political nerve centre, hosting delegations from across the country while undertaking near-daily grassroots tours aimed at building a nationwide political movement.
On Thursday, only hours before Mr Havi's statement, Mr Gachagua met leaders from Subukia Constituency in Nakuru County, describing the engagement as part of ongoing consultations to chart the country's political future.
"The people of Subukia want change; they need a leadership that cares and listens to them just like the 55 million Kenyans want," Mr Gachagua said.
"I have thanked them for their courage to step out and speak their mind in the ongoing consultations about the liberation of our nation. We have agreed with them on the verdict of August 10, 2027. The Future is Green. Consultations continue."
The meeting was politically symbolic.
Nakuru lies within the Rift Valley, long considered President Ruto's political backyard. Mr Gachagua's increasing engagements in the region signal an attempt to erode the President's traditional support base while projecting himself as a national rather than regional political figure.
Mr Havi has consistently defended that strategy.
Following Mr Gachagua's removal from government, the senior counsel described him as the "undisputed leader of the opposition", maintaining that political authority is won through mobilisation and public engagement rather than elite negotiations.
His latest remarks are therefore less an endorsement than a restatement of a position he has maintained for months—that the politician doing the most work on the ground deserves the greatest say within the coalition.
However, recent opinion polls suggest that visibility has yet to translate into overwhelming national support.
The latest Infotrak "Voice of the People" survey released in July shows President Ruto leading the potential 2027 presidential field with 32 per cent support.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka follows at 13 per cent, while ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i each poll at 12 per cent. Mr Gachagua is placed fifth with four per cent nationally, although he performs more strongly in the Mt Kenya region. The survey also found that 18 per cent of voters remain undecided, underlining how fluid the race remains with a year to the election.
Political analysts say the figures illustrate the opposition's biggest challenge.
While President Ruto retains the advantage as the incumbent, opposition support remains fragmented among several prominent leaders, with none emerging as the clear alternative.
That fragmentation explains why the question of leadership has become increasingly sensitive.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has repeatedly argued that coalition unity should take precedence over the selection of a presidential candidate, saying the alliance will decide its flag bearer through consultation at the appropriate time.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has similarly urged opposition leaders to prioritise governance reforms and constitutional issues instead of engaging in premature succession contests.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition figures have also been mentioned by supporters as potential presidential contenders, highlighting the crowded nature of the race.
Yet among all the opposition leaders, Mr Gachagua has arguably maintained the most visible grassroots campaign.
His calendar has been dominated by daily consultations with professionals, clergy, youth groups, political leaders and community delegations at Wamunyoro, complemented by political tours across Central Kenya, the Rift Valley, Western, Eastern and the Coast.
I
