Fred Matiang’i has urged opposition leaders to remain united through the selection of a presidential candidate for 2027.
Fred Matiang’i says he will back the opposition even without its presidential ticket, while Rigathi Gachagua warns that choosing a joint candidate could trigger a departure.
Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i has committed to staying in the opposition even if he misses out on its presidential nomination, urging fellow leaders to put unity ahead of personal ambitions before the 2027 General Election.
His pledge came a day after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua predicted that the selection of a joint presidential candidate would prompt one of the opposition principals to leave the coalition.
Speaking on Sunday at Dominion Chapel Ministries International in Olerai, Narok County, Matiang’i said leaders seeking a common political front should be willing to support whichever candidate emerges from their negotiations.
Matiang’i urges concessions
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary said the opposition’s prospects depended on its ability to stay united through the nomination process. He urged leaders to accept compromises, including outcomes that do not advance their own presidential bids.
Matiang’i argued that disagreement over the ticket should not undermine the wider effort to bring opposition parties together. He said remaining in the alliance mattered even for those who would not secure the position they were seeking.
He also asked his colleagues to weigh the consequences of the current administration securing another five-year term, rather than allowing individual aspirations to determine their political choices.
Explaining his involvement in the unity efforts, Matiang’i said he was actively working with other leaders to build a broad movement ahead of the election. He stressed the need for agreement on the opposition’s next steps.
His comments came during a Narok political tour alongside other opposition figures, part of a series of joint engagements by parties pursuing a shared platform for the 2027 polls.
Gachagua draws a 2002 parallel
Addressing Kenyans in Dallas, United States, the previous day, Gachagua said negotiations over a single flagbearer could end with one leader rejecting the arrangement and proceeding separately.
The Democracy for Citizens Party leader based his prediction on the political realignment before the 2002 General Election, when opposition leaders united behind Mwai Kibaki.
Recalling the rallying call that endorsed Kibaki, Gachagua said presidential contender Simeon Nyachae chose not to join that arrangement and pursued his own bid. He suggested a comparable split could follow the announcement of the opposition’s 2027 candidate.
Gachagua did not name the person he believed might leave. He framed the prediction as a judgement informed by his political experience and reading of Kenya’s history.
Despite that warning, he has said he would remain in the coalition if another politician wins its presidential nomination.
Joint ticket remains a key test
The two leaders’ remarks put the question of loyalty after the nomination at the centre of the opposition’s ongoing realignment. Both have committed to remaining within the alliance, even as Gachagua anticipates that another principal may take a different path.
Matiang’i has acknowledged that choosing one candidate will require patience, sacrifice and negotiations between the political formations involved. Gachagua has also urged presidential hopefuls to publicly promise their support for whoever is selected.
With several leaders positioning themselves for the contest, agreement on the presidential ticket remains a central issue in efforts to establish a united opposition front ahead of 2027.
