Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua [GACHAGUA/X]Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has unveiled his first course of action should he be elected president in 2027, outlining education, health, and taxation reforms as his immediate priorities.
Speaking during a political rally in Ruiru, Kiambu County, on Saturday, Gachagua said his administration would prioritise restoring free education, a program he credited to the late President Mwai Kibaki.
He explained that many families continue to face challenges in meeting school-related expenses despite the government’s pledge of free basic education, and pledged to strengthen the policy.
“The first thing I will do if elected president is to ensure that our children truly access free education, as was introduced by the late Mwai Kibaki,” Gachagua said.
He added that his next priority would be reforms in the health sector, including reviving free maternity care to ease the burden on families and improve maternal and child health outcomes across the country.
Gachagua further declared his intention to abolish the housing levy introduced under the current administration, arguing that it has placed an unnecessary strain on taxpayers.
According to him, scrapping the levy would give Kenyans more breathing space in a tight economic environment.
“These are the burdens we must lift from Kenyans if we want a nation where citizens thrive,” he told the gathering.
The remarks come as Gachagua steps up his political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He has publicly signalled his readiness to contest for the presidency, positioning himself as a leader capable of taking on President William Ruto head-on at the ballot.
In his address, Gachagua reiterated that he views himself as the right candidate to provide solutions to Kenya’s pressing economic and social challenges, insisting that the momentum behind his candidacy continues to grow.
“The medicine to remove Ruto is Riggy G,” he quipped, drawing reactions from the crowd.
With the political race gradually shaping up, Gachagua’s proposals mark some of the clearest indications yet of his policy priorities should he succeed in his bid for the country’s top office.
