United Opposition leaders, from left: Fred Matiang'i of the Jubilee Party, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Patriotic Front, Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), and Eugene Wamalwa of the Democratic Action Party–Kenya, during a church service at PCEA Utawala in Nairobi on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
The political battle for 2027 took centre stage when leaders of the United Opposition rallied Kenyans to abandon President William Ruto.
The leaders, who spoke yesterday during the start of a three-day tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties, said that the political winds have shifted against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
They told residents of the Rift Valley and Nyanza regions that they would not be sidelined once the opposition takes office after the 2027 General Election.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Patriotic Front’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Jubilee presidential candidate Dr Fred Matiang’i, former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, PNU party leader Peter Munya and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya were present.
The leaders promised that all parts of the country would enjoy equal treatment.
They also pledged to reverse “unpopular policies” introduced by President Ruto’s administration.
The leaders addressed rallies during a stopover in Bomet before heading to Kisii and Nyamira counties. They held rallies in Bomet town, Mulot, Chebole, Kaplong, Sotik, Ekerenyo, Ikonge, Keroka, Birongo, Keumbu and Kisii town.
They accused the president of neglecting the South Rift region, claiming that four years after ascending to power, there is little tangible evidence of development in the area.
Jubilee Party Presidential candidate Fred Matiang'i (left) and Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a church service at PCEA Utawala in Nairobi on February 22, 2026.
Dr Matiang’i was endorsed as the Gusii community spokesman at Ekerenyo, where opposition leaders declared that proponents of the broad-based government have no footing in the region.
“I thank the Gusii community for the honour. I promise my people that I will not let them down and I commit to ensuring unity within the opposition,” said Dr Matiang’i after the endorsement.
Mr Gachagua congratulated Dr Matiang’i on his endorsement, and said that the Gusii community now had representation at the national negotiating table.
“As a community, you must ensure that your son is respected at home. That will enable me to market him in Mt Kenya,” Mr Gachagua said.
The Democracy for Citizens Party leader said that the opposition had no quarrel with communities in the Rift Valley but was focused on removing President Ruto from office in the elections.
The leaders advised locals not to place all their hopes on one candidate, and instead align with the opposition to secure a stake in the next government.
Mr Gachagua criticised what he termed as stalled projects in the South Rift, including the resettlement of Mau Forest evictees, the Bosto water dam project and the completion of Bomet IAAF Stadium.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming support that President Ruto was given in the 2022 General Election, locals had little to show for it in terms of roads, water infrastructure or tea prices.
Mr Musyoka accused the government of pursuing a lopsided development agenda. He told the president to address infrastructure gaps in his political backyard before criticising other regions.
PNU's Peter Munya (second left) with Jubilee's Fred Matiang'i (third left) on February 18, 2026.
“It is unfortunate that there are no notable development projects in the South Rift initiated by the current administration while other regions are benefiting,” he said.
Mr Wamalwa criticised the reforms in the health sector, claiming that the transition from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund to the Social Health Authority had disrupted access to services such as Linda Mama and Edu Afya.
He said that the president had reneged on key campaign promises, fuelling growing dissatisfaction across the country.
President Ruto recently dismissed opposition leaders as disorganised and lacking a clear agenda. The remarks have drawn criticism from a section of political leaders who described his language as undiplomatic.
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