The Opposition has begun negotiations to settle on a joint presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the August 10, 2027 General Election, with less than 10 months remaining before the polls.
The push for a common candidate follows a meeting on Tuesday between leaders allied to Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi faction at Wamunyoro in Nyeri County.
DCP party Leader Rigathi Gachagua met with Linda Mwananchi Party leb by leader Edwin Sifuna at his Wamunyoro residence.
Photo credit: Pool
Described as an introductory meeting, the talks went beyond breaking the ice, with leaders from both camps agreeing to work towards a united presidential ticket and support whoever emerges as the opposition’s flag bearer.
Speaking to the Nation , DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala said the two teams had agreed to work together and begin exploring how to select a single candidate to face President Ruto next year. He said the leaders had committed themselves to supporting whoever was chosen to carry the opposition’s presidential flag, regardless of who won the nomination.
“We have not started discussing the details (of how to choose a presidential candidate), but at least this was a meeting to break the ice and create a conducive environment for our subsequent talks,” Mr Malala said.
DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala addresses the media at the party headquarters in Nairobi on May 20, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“However, there are certain commitments that we have made. One is that whoever will be chosen, we will support and whoever will not be lucky will work with the team, as our focus is to remove William Ruto from the helm,” he added.
Mr Malala said the two camps planned to meet Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka next week before turning to the finer details of selecting a joint presidential candidate.
“After the two meetings, we will be able to craft a way in which one of the three will fly the ticket and the other will deputise the chosen one,” he said.
He said the meeting marked the beginning of a united opposition effort and would pave the way for joint rallies across the country.
“We are now friends and we can attend joint rallies. They can come to the Mountain or go anywhere with us. As DCP, we are planning the Western tour and so we will be able to work with the Linda Mwananchi team because it is now binding that we shall be working together in the 2027 General Election,” Mr Malala said.
The Linda Mwananchi faction is scheduled to hold a rally in Kwale County on October 31 as it takes its campaign to the Coast region.
On his part, Mr Gachagua said the meeting was intended to demonstrate that the opposition was united behind the goal of removing President Ruto from power.
“I wanted us to be together and agree that we are one team and we mean well for the country. We are very simple people even though some people have branded us otherwise. We are not tribal as some people have called us because when we supported Ruto, he was not a Kamau or Njoroge but a Kalenjin. He was a Kipchirchir but we still supported him. Let nobody tell you we are tribal,” he said.
DCP party Leader Rigathi Gachagua met with Linda Mwananchi Party leader Edwin Sifuna at his Wamunyoro residence.
Photo credit: Pool
In a social media post, Mr Gachagua welcomed the delegation to his Wamunyoro residence, writing: “Welcome to Wamunyoro residence my cousins from Linda Mwananchi. When we come together great things Must happen.”
During his tour of the United States last month, Mr Gachagua indicated that he was willing to deputise Mr Sifuna if the senator emerged as the opposition’s preferred presidential candidate.
“I know Ruto well and I am the person to send him home but if I am unsuccessful and they persuade me otherwise, I Riggy G I can deputise Sifuna,” the DCP leader said.
DCP party Leader Rigathi Gachagua met with Linda Mwananchi Party leader Edwin Sifuna at his Wamunyoro residence.
Photo credit: Pool
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya told the Nation to expect a major political development, saying negotiations were progressing behind the scenes as opposition leaders explored possible alliances.
“Soon, we will have a joint candidate, joint manifesto and an angled attack on the incumbent who we must democratically remove from power in 2027,” Mr Natembeya said.
Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, a close ally of Mr Sifuna, said the Wamunyoro meeting was an important step towards uniting the opposition and bringing its leaders together.
“That was an opportunity we have yearned for and we had a very candid discussion because we want our leaders to be united. For sure the dream of having one opposition is coming true and the meeting was part of the journey,” said Mr Kalasinga, a Ford Kenya MP who has broken ranks with his party and is supporting Mr Sifuna’s presidential bid.
“It is good we stayed together and enjoyed goat meat, dawa drink and mukimo as we also familiarised with each other as the journey ahead is tough and we have to work together,” he added.
Mr Sifuna was accompanied to Wamunyoro by, among others, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Mr Kalasinga, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua(right), Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and DCP Secretary-General designate John Methu in Wamunyoro.
Photo credit: Pool
Mr Gachagua’s team included DCP Secretary-General designate John Methu, senators Joe Nyutu (Murang’a), John Kinyua (Laikipia) and Seki Lenku (Kajiado), as well as former Starehe MP Maina Kamanda.
The meeting came hours after Mr Gachagua returned to Kenya on Tuesday following nearly two months in the United States, avoiding the drama that marked his previous homecoming.
Kenyans learnt of his return after his communications team posted photographs online, announcing: “Riggy G arrives at his Wamunyoro residence after jetting back from the USA.”
One photograph showed him making a phone call inside his compound. Mr Gachagua left Kenya on August 26, 2026, for a tour of the US that took him to Spokane, Portland, Kansas, Dallas and Boston, where he held consultations with Kenyans living in the diaspora.
He later announced a 15-day political conclave at his Texas ranch to help shape the opposition’s strategy for the 2027 elections, but cut it short after 10 days.
The United Opposition is yet to resolve key questions that could determine its chances against President Ruto, including the coalition’s name, the terms of cooperation among its members and the process for selecting a joint presidential candidate.
The coalition also brings together Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, Jubilee’s Fred Matiang’i, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.
During his US tour, Mr Gachagua said he wanted to develop proposals for selecting a candidate capable of defeating President Ruto in the next General Election.
“I want to be away from undue influence so that I can soberly draw my proposal about possible combinations that can defeat President Ruto in 2027,” he said.
His return is expected to inject fresh momentum into negotiations over the opposition’s presidential ticket, with the central question being whether he will seek the nomination himself or support another principal in a negotiated arrangement.
Despite the latest efforts, the United Opposition continues to grapple with suspicion that government allies have infiltrated its ranks, complicating negotiations over a joint presidential candidate as the election approaches.
The mistrust has seen Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Dr Matiang’i struggle to shake off allegations that they are government moles, leaving both facing questions about their place in the opposition coalition.
Earlier this month, Mr Methu questioned Mr Nyoro’s political activities and suggested that he was working against the opposition.
Nyandarua County Senator John Methu.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“If it quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck. If I was to name moles, the name of Ndindi Nyoro would feature very prominently,” Mr Methu said.
“I initially thought I knew him (Matiang’i) very well but these days, I don’t think I know him very well because if I say Ndindi Nyoro is a mole and his best friend is Matiang’i, what do I say about him?” posed the Nyandarua senator.
Mr Nyoro has dismissed the allegations, accusing Mr Gachagua of orchestrating a smear campaign against him.
