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Opposition dismisses Ruto by-election wins, vows to oust him in 2027
United Opposition leaders led by DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua, DAPK Eugene Wamalwa, and Mithika Linturi during a rally in Heshima, Bahati sub-county in Nakuru City on February 28, 2026.
The United Opposition team on Saturday laughed off President William Ruto’s celebration of the recent triumph in the by-elections, which they claim were flawed and had no bearing on the 2027 General Election.
The leaders claimed they did not channel their energies into the mini-polls because they knew they would not be free and fair.
Speaking in Nakuru during the second day of their tour of the county, the leaders claimed the results demonstrated the need for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to undertake urgent reforms that they had proposed before the polls.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka observed that the United Opposition was wise enough not to invest heavily in the by-elections because they knew what was being planned by the government.
“I have seen President Ruto chest-thumping about defeating the alternative opposition in the by-elections, but I want to ask him not to celebrate yet because we know what happened. We are not fools to put our energies into something that was already flawed,” said Mr Musyoka.
The Wiper leader described the by-elections as President Ruto competing against himself after he purportedly rigged the entire process.
“In those polls, it was a competition between Ruto and Ruto, so he should stop chest-thumping about defeating the opposition,” said Mr Musyoka.
His sentiments were echoed by Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa, who indicated that the by-elections were marred by massive irregularities, which made them lose interest in them.
He said the opposition had turned its focus toward ensuring a level playing field ahead of the 2027 General Election, which would enable them to achieve their objective of sending President Ruto home.
According to Mr Wamalwa, the rigging was evident at polling stations and he cited an example of a station in Isiolo where the number of votes exceeded the number of registered voters.
“Let him stop with his chest-thumping because it is obvious the by-elections were flawed. This is evidenced by the results at Garbatula Polling Station, where the total number of votes was more than the registered voters,” said Mr Wamalwa.
The DAP leader noted that the United Opposition had no time to concentrate on the small MCA positions, which are not their main agenda.
He explained that the opposition had given the IEBC until next week to confirm reforms, especially on the technology being used in the elections.
“We commend the IEBC for sending away Chief Executive Officer Marjan Hussein, which was one of our two irreducible minimums. What remains is reform of this Venezuelan Smartmatic technology, which appears to aid the flawed process. We are giving IEBC chair Erastus Ethekon one week to make the changes, after which we shall visit his office,” stated Mr Wamalwa.
The Thursday by-elections were a blow to the opposition, considering that in the November 27, 2025 mini-polls, UDA won three parliamentary seats – Mbeere North, Banisa and Malava – while ODM, the ruling party’s partner in the broad-based government, won Ugunja, Kilifi South and Kasipul.
In total, of the 28 by-elections, the broad-based government has scooped 22 seats.
On the other hand, in the November 27 polls, DCP won in Kariobangi North, Narok Town and Kisa East wards in Kajiado County.
UDA’s clean sweep in Mt Kenya is being interpreted within party ranks as evidence that President Ruto has stabilised his foothold in the vote-rich region. It also sends a signal to emerging outfits linked to Mr Gachagua that UDA’s grassroots machinery remains formidable.
However, the relatively strong showing by DCP in West Kabras indicates that alternative formations are making incremental inroads, even if not yet enough to dislodge UDA dominance.
The United Opposition was on the second day of its tour of the county, where it made stopovers at Ahero, Maili Kumi, Bahati, Kabazi and Subukia, addressing supporters.
Among those present during the tour were DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, DAP leader Eugene Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Nyandarua Senator John Methu.
Mr Gachagua, the former deputy president, urged residents to rally behind their agenda to make Ruto a one-term President, accusing him of mismanaging the country.
Mr Gachagua accused Ruto of lying to Kenyans and overseeing the plundering of public resources through proxies and cartels, which he said have left Kenyans in poverty.
He claimed President Ruto has ruined the country’s image by associating with criminals indicted for genocide and endangering Kenyans’ lives by issuing national identity cards and passports to foreigners.
“President Ruto has messed up our country. He is selling our parastatals, auctioning our passports and IDs, and now exporting our children to fight in wars in Russia. He needs to go home in 2027,” said Mr Gachagua.
While rallying supporters to join his party, he called on residents to vote out all leaders associated with President William Ruto, whom he described as accomplices to the vices.
Governor Natembeya, who returned to Nakuru County after resigning as Rift Valley Regional Commissioner to join politics, indicated that removing President Ruto from office is their main objective.
“Once we defeat President Ruto in 2027, we shall have solved about 80 per cent of Kenya’s problems, and we are going to make history as the first opposition to send a President home after one term,” said Governor Natembeya.
DP leader Justin Muturi called on the international community to closely monitor President Ruto’s activities, which he said arKalonzo and Rigathi branded Ruto’s recent by-election 'clean sweep' an exercise in which the President was 'competing against himself'.e endangering not only the lives of Kenyans but also those of its neighbours in the East African Community.
The leaders are set to continue their tour in Laikipia, Nyandarua and Nyeri.
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