Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says he will travel to the United States this week for an extended stay, describing the trip as part of preparations for Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), made the announcement on Sunday during a church service at PEFA Church in Karatina, Nyeri County.
He said he would leave on Wednesday with his wife, Dorcas Rigathi, and spend time meeting Kenyans and other communities in the United States.
“On Wednesday this week, my wife and I will travel to the United States to plan for the mountain’s future,” Gachagua said. “I want to go there and interact with the whites and fellow blacks for a while.”
He did not say when he would return to Kenya, saying only that the visit would last for some time.
Gachagua cites need for political space
Gachagua said the length of the trip was deliberate. He argued that being outside Kenya would give him room to make political decisions without pressure from people around him.
“And I have a reason why I will be travelling for an extended period,” he said. “When I am here, there are decisions that I cannot make due to external influence. Therefore, I want to make decisions without undue influence.”
The remarks come as Gachagua winds up a series of political consultations at his Wamunyoro residence. He is expected to conclude the meetings on Monday after extending an initial 45-day period by another 10 days.
The former deputy president has spent the past several weeks meeting political allies and delegations as he weighs his next move ahead of the 2027 election.
Allies to remain in Kenya
Gachagua said his political team would continue handling matters in Kenya while he is abroad.
He specifically pointed to allies such as Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who will remain active on the ground.
He also said his team could contact him if urgent matters arose, suggesting that the trip would not remove him entirely from Kenya’s political affairs.
The United States visit will be Gachagua’s second overseas trip this year. In May, he traveled to the United Kingdom for a diaspora engagement and fundraising tour, which was cut short.
His latest announcement comes as political parties and potential presidential contenders begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
Gachagua has yet to formally declare whether he will seek the presidency, but his recent consultations and public statements have kept speculation about his political ambitions firmly in the spotlight.
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