A year after Rigathi Gachagua was removed from office over accusations of gross misconduct, irregular wealth acquisition, insubordination, and fanning ethnic divisions, the former deputy president has re-emerged as the face of the Opposition — a combative figure rattling his former boss, President William Ruto.

Gachagua has spent the past month in the United States, where he kept up attacks on the government, criticising corruption, extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. His return today, however, has been timed to coincide with a string of by-elections — a political showdown that will mark his first direct contest with Ruto ahead of the 2027 general election.