Matiang’i shared photographs with Gachagua and Kalonzo after their Nairobi unity talks.
President William Ruto says voters will make their own choices as Gachagua, Kalonzo and Matiang’i seek common ground.
President William Ruto has challenged opposition claims of commanding 10 million votes ahead of the 2027 General Election. He accused Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i of treating Kenyan voters as political possessions.
Speaking on Monday during a development tour of the Gusii region, Ruto questioned their stated electoral strengths. He argued that citizens would make independent choices at the ballot rather than follow politicians automatically.
His remarks followed a weekend meeting in Nairobi, where the three leaders sought to ease tensions within the opposition.
Ruto questions 10 million votes claim
Ruto criticised the idea that individual politicians could claim to carry millions of votes into coalition negotiations. Referring to claims of support numbering 10 million and three million, he urged opposition leaders to respect voters.
Gachagua, however, has defended his emphasis on numbers as essential to building a serious presidential campaign. The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader has repeatedly argued that Mount Kenya could deliver about 10 million votes to the opposition.
He has also assigned Kalonzo a target of three million votes. In previous discussions, he set a target of between four million and five million for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The former Deputy President maintains that presidential hopefuls must show their ability to mobilise voters. In his view, they should not expect coalition partners to endorse them automatically.
Opposition leaders seek unity after disagreements
Meanwhile, Saturday’s meeting brought Gachagua together with Kalonzo and Jubilee Party leader Matiang’i after disagreements threatened opposition unity. Their differences centred on political strategy, leadership and the process for choosing a joint presidential candidate.
Kalonzo reportedly initiated the talks because he feared public exchanges could fracture the coalition and benefit Ruto. The meeting sought to reconcile the rival camps and renew their commitment to challenging the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Matiang’i, however, had warned that Gachagua’s approach risked weakening unity. He argued that the opposition needed to accommodate different political interests to defeat Ruto.
After the meeting, Matiang’i shared photographs of the three leaders on social media, signalling reconciliation. On Sunday, he also reaffirmed his commitment to unity while addressing a church congregation in Naro Moru, Nyeri County.
He acknowledged differences among opposition leaders but said they would put them aside to pursue a common political goal.
