Rigathi Gachagua continued his political engagements in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday, October 4, 2026, where he spoke to Kenyan clergy and members of the diaspora about the country's political future, the 2027 General Election, opposition unity and the role Kenyans living abroad could play in Kenya's development. His latest remarks were particularly significant because they came as he continues his extended United States tour and intensifies his political activities ahead of the next General Election. 

Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has been using his American tour to engage Kenyans living and working in different states. His Boston programme has included meetings with diaspora communities, religious leaders and other stakeholders. He arrived in Boston on October 1 and has since held several engagements in the area. His wife, Rev. Dorcas Rigathi, and politicians James Gakuya and Benjamin Gathiru, popularly known as Mejja Donk, have accompanied him during the tour. 

Strong message on foreign voters

One of the strongest issues Gachagua addressed in Boston today was the question of foreign nationals allegedly participating in Kenya's 2027 elections.

Speaking during his engagement with clergy, Gachagua said the opposition would not accept foreigners being used to influence the outcome of the Kenyan election. He specifically mentioned nationals from Uganda and Somalia and insisted that only eligible Kenyan citizens should participate in the polls.

Gachagua said his political camp would instead concentrate on mobilising legitimate Kenyan voters. He also insisted that no foreigner should be allowed to vote in Kenya.

His comments come amid renewed political controversy surrounding claims that foreign nationals could be registered as Kenyan voters ahead of the 2027 election. These allegations have generated considerable political debate, particularly concerning the Kenya-Uganda border.

The issue is likely to remain politically important as preparations for the 2027 elections continue, particularly because political parties are expected to scrutinise voter registration and the electoral roll.

Gachagua says DCP is Kenya's most popular party

Another major message from his Boston engagement was his confidence in the Democracy for Citizens Party.

Gachagua declared that DCP is currently the most popular political party in Kenya. He went further to claim that the party could secure a majority in Parliament and control county assemblies in more than 20 counties after the 2027 elections.

The claims represent Gachagua's assessment of his party's growing political influence, although they are political projections rather than independently verified election forecasts.

He has increasingly positioned DCP as a major component of the opposition movement and has been using his diaspora engagements to explain his political vision and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 polls.

Gachagua reveals plans for a political showdown with Ruto

Gachagua also revealed a previously undisclosed political plan involving Nyandarua Senator John Methu.

He said he had at one point tried to persuade Methu to resign from Parliament so that a Senate by-election could be triggered. According to Gachagua, his intention was to use such an election as a direct political contest between his side and President William Ruto's political camp.

Gachagua described the proposed contest as an opportunity for the two sides to test their political strength.

He said the plan was eventually overtaken by events following the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho. The subsequent Ol Kalou by-election became another political battleground involving supporters of Gachagua and Ruto. 

The remarks demonstrate the extent to which Gachagua views the political competition between himself and Ruto as a major contest ahead of 2027.

His continuing criticism of President Ruto

Gachagua's Boston visit has also been marked by his continued criticism of President William Ruto.

On Friday, while speaking to Kenyans in Massachusetts, Gachagua responded to remarks attributed to Ruto in which the President referred to him as a "fool."

Gachagua dismissed the description and turned his attention to the Ol Kalou by-election. He portrayed the contest as a political test between his camp and Ruto's side, claiming that the President had deployed significant political resources to support his preferred candidate.

Gachagua argued that the outcome demonstrated that his political influence remained strong despite the resources available to the government and the ruling party. 

His remarks underline the continuing political rivalry between the two men, who were once political allies and successfully campaigned together during the 2022 presidential election.

Their relationship later deteriorated, eventually leading to Gachagua's removal from the Deputy Presidency in October 2024. Since then, Gachagua has emerged as one of the prominent critics of the Ruto administration.

A bigger role for Kenyans in the diaspora

Gachagua's Boston message was not limited to political criticism. He also outlined proposals for giving Kenyans living abroad a greater role in government if he were to become President after the 2027 election.

He said qualified Kenyans living in foreign countries should be considered for positions in Kenya's embassies and diplomatic missions.

According to Gachagua, members of the diaspora possess knowledge of the countries where they live, including language skills, business networks and understanding of local systems. He argued that this expertise could make Kenya's diplomatic representation more effective.

He proposed that where Kenya appoints an ambassador from the country, a deputy could potentially be selected from qualified Kenyans living in the host country.

He also proposed establishing at least three additional consulates, with their locations determined through consultations with diaspora communities. 

Proposed easier access to government services

Another proposal Gachagua presented in Boston concerned consular services.

He argued that Kenyans living far from Kenyan diplomatic missions should not have to spend large amounts of money travelling to places such as Washington, DC, simply to renew passports or obtain government documents.

He suggested that some services could be outsourced to accredited agents in cities with large Kenyan populations.

The proposed services could include applications for passports, national identification cards, birth certificates and marriage certificates.

The proposal reflects one of the major concerns of Kenyans living abroad: accessibility of government services.

Diaspora representation in Parliament and counties

Gachagua also proposed greater political representation for Kenyans living outside the country.

He said DCP would reserve a parliamentary nomination position for a representative of the diaspora.

He further proposed that the party could nominate diaspora representatives to county assemblies where it secures sufficient nomination positions.

According to Gachagua, Kenyans abroad have experience with different systems of governance and could bring new ideas to Kenya's devolved government system.

This proposal would give the diaspora a more direct political voice in Kenya's decision-making structures. 

Diaspora investment and job creation

Gachagua has repeatedly emphasised investment during his Boston tour.

On Saturday, he said discussions with Kenyans in the Boston area focused on youth unemployment, investor confidence and governance.

He said many Kenyans living abroad were concerned about the direction of the country and believed significant changes were necessary to tackle unemployment.

He also said many diaspora Kenyans were ready to invest in Kenya and create jobs but needed greater confidence in the country's economic and legal environment.

According to Gachagua, fighting corruption and respecting the rule of law would be important in attracting more investment from Kenyans living abroad. 

He has portrayed the diaspora as more than a source of remittances. In his view, Kenyans abroad can contribute through technology, expertise, investment and business connections.

Promoting Kenyan products abroad

Gachagua also proposed using Kenyan communities abroad to market products produced in Kenya.

He mentioned products such as tea, coffee, avocados and macadamia nuts.

His proposal would involve creating mechanisms through Kenyan diplomatic missions through which members of the diaspora could help sell Kenyan products in foreign markets while earning commissions.

The idea forms part of his broader argument that Kenya should make better use of its citizens living abroad.

His message to the church

Religion has also featured prominently in Gachagua's Boston engagements.

During his meetings with clergy, he argued that the church should play a greater role in guiding society.

Gachagua said the church helps nurture moral character and should be consulted when the country is developing laws, policies and making important moral decisions.

He has therefore presented the church as an institution whose role should extend beyond religious activities to broader national discussions. 

His message comes at a time when religious leaders continue to play an influential role in Kenya's political and social discussions.

Opposition unity ahead of 2027

Gachagua's Boston visit is also part of his wider effort to build opposition unity before the 2027 election.

He has previously said that opposition leaders should eventually agree on one presidential candidate capable of challenging Ruto.

His Boston remarks about DCP's popularity indicate that he believes his party has the potential to become a major force in that political arrangement.

At the same time, the opposition remains composed of different parties and personalities, meaning the question of who eventually becomes the presidential candidate could become one of the biggest political negotiations before 2027.