Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has taken a swipe at President William Ruto’s suggestion that Kenyans explore buffalo milk as an alternative dairy source, turning the proposal into a joke about preparations for visitors at his Wamunyoro home. But beyond the humour, Gachagua’s latest remarks carried a political message, with discussions involving Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other Linda Mwananchi leaders pointing to ongoing efforts to build cooperation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Highlights
- Gachagua joked about sending young men to Hombe Forest to look for buffalo milk for his guests.
- President Ruto proposed diversifying milk production during an agriculture summit in Nairobi.
- Leaders associated with Linda Mwananchi, led by Edwin Sifuna, visited Gachagua at Wamunyoro.
- Gachagua expressed openness to negotiations over a possible joint opposition presidential candidate.
- He pledged to grow his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) and increase its parliamentary representation.
Main Story
Gachagua Turns Ruto’s Buffalo Milk Proposal Into a Joke
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has used humour to criticise President William Ruto’s proposal to explore buffalo milk production as Kenya deals with dairy supply challenges linked to drought.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence, Gachagua joked that he had sent young men to nearby Hombe Forest to find out whether they could obtain buffalo milk to serve the leaders expected to visit him.
The remark was a pointed response to the President’s call for the country to consider alternative milk sources rather than relying exclusively on conventional dairy production.
Ruto made the proposal on October 8, 2026, while addressing the Agriculture and Food Security Transformation Summit at the Jamhuri Park ASK Showground in Nairobi.
The President argued that Kenya should investigate additional ways of meeting its milk needs, including the possibility of obtaining milk from buffaloes.
Gachagua, who had recently returned from an extended tour of the United States, used the suggestion to deliver a political jab while discussing the growing number of visitors expected at his residence.
Sifuna’s Visit Brings Opposition Talks Into Focus
The former Deputy President’s remarks came on Wednesday during a visit by leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The meeting took place as opposition figures continued exploring possible partnerships ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua said he had returned to Kenya partly to revive political engagement and join discussions on how different leaders could work together to challenge Ruto’s administration.
He indicated that he was willing to negotiate with other political players, provided the discussions were aimed at finding common ground rather than imposing conditions on potential partners.
The former Deputy President also referenced his conversations with leaders he described as interested in building a united political front.
Gachagua Floats Possible Joint Presidential Candidate
One of the key issues raised during the meeting was the possibility of agreeing on a single presidential candidate to represent a broader opposition alliance.
Gachagua mentioned himself, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Sifuna as possible figures who could emerge from such discussions.
His comments signal an openness to negotiations, although no final agreement on a candidate or formal coalition was announced in the remarks provided.
Opposition unity remains a subject of debate as political leaders consider how their individual ambitions, party interests and competing priorities might fit into a shared electoral strategy.
Sifuna has also featured in wider discussions about the opposition’s possible presidential ticket, adding to the attention surrounding his political future ahead of the next election.
DCP Expansion Also on Gachagua’s Agenda
Beyond possible alliances, Gachagua outlined plans to strengthen his Democracy for the Citizens Party and increase its presence in Parliament.
He said he wanted the party to secure more than 100 MPs, presenting parliamentary representation as an important part of his strategy for protecting the interests of his supporters.
He also spoke about the need to challenge negative political labels directed at his constituency and called for greater cooperation among leaders who share concerns about the country’s direction.
His remarks suggest that any future partnership would have to accommodate both broader opposition objectives and the individual political interests of the parties involved.
More Leaders Expected at Wamunyoro
Gachagua indicated that additional political leaders were interested in visiting him, again returning to the buffalo milk joke when discussing preparations for his guests.
The comments blended humour with a broader political message at a time when leaders are holding conversations about possible alliances before the 2027 polls.
For now, it remains unclear whether the discussions at Wamunyoro will lead to a formal coalition or an agreed presidential candidate.
What is clear from Gachagua’s statements is that he is signalling willingness to engage other leaders while continuing to build his own party’s political strength.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the bigger question is whether political humour and early conversations at Wamunyoro will translate into a concrete opposition agreement or whether competing ambitions will shape the final outcome.
