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Maraga, Sifuna camps and United Opposition vow to field one candidate to oust Ruto
Opposition leaders during the burial of Teresia Nyaboke Omoke, mother of Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, at Monarch Hotel in Kitutu Chache South, Kisii County on May 15, 2026.
What you need to know:
- The Linda Mwananchi faction expressed readiness to collaborate with the United Opposition leaders.
- Mr Sifuna criticised some ODM leaders from Gusii whom he accused of betraying and persecuting him.
The United Opposition has reassured Kenyans that it will field one presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
The opposition team also sent strong signals that it will embark on talks with the Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party with a view to solidifying its strength to remove President William Ruto from office in the next General Election.
The United “Alternative Government” co-principals, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang'i and Martha Karua, vowed to agree to disagree and present one candidate as a strategy to defeat President Ruto at the ballot.
The Linda Mwananchi faction, led by James Orengo, Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino and Godfrey Osotsi, expressed readiness to collaborate with the United Opposition leaders, noting their commitment to the agenda of sending President Ruto home.
An opinion poll conducted by TIFA and released this week showed that 73 per cent of ODM supporters are with the Linda Mwananchi faction, while 24 percent support Linda Ground, which is associated with acting party leader Oburu Odinga. Three percent are undecided.
United Green Movement (UGM) 2027 presidential flag bearer David Maraga, along with Winnie and Ruth Odinga — the daughter and sister of the late Raila Odinga, respectively — criticised the manner in which the broad-based government is running the country.
The leaders criticised the lack of accountability within the government and urged it to stop managing the National Treasury like a private entity.
Leaders aligned with the broad-based government from Gusii, led by Silvanus Osoro, faced hostility from the crowd, who chanted “one-term”.
They defended President Ruto, telling the opposition to brace for a tough contest ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Kenya Kwanza leaders braved heckling and chants of “one-term” directed at the head of state’s re-election bid.
Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i during the burial of Teresia Nyaboke Omoke, mother of Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, at Monarch Hotel in Kitutu Chache South, Kisii County on May 15, 2026.
The leaders spoke during the burial of Teresia Nyaboke Omoke, mother of Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, at Monarch Hotel in Kitutu Chache South, Kisii County, on Friday.
“Ruto is one-term, but elections are a process. Between now and next August, we must not allow Ruto to manipulate elections. We assure you that we will unite as the opposition,” said Wiper leader Mr Musyoka.
Dr Matiang’i expressed readiness to begin talks with Linda Mwananchi, noting that they will soon visit Western Kenya to garner voter support.
“I can assure you that we will unite. Some people think we are foolish, but we can see far. We will unite to ensure Ruto is not re-elected,” said Dr Matiang'i, who also conveyed condolences from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“We will continue to present ourselves as presidential aspirants before you, but we will eventually unite and have one opposition candidate,” Ms Karua said.
Mr Maraga stated that he has visited 43 counties and noted that Kenyans are suffering greatly.
“It would be a terrible tragedy if we allow Ruto to return. All his projects are a mess. I am ready to join the opposition, but I caution that they should be careful not to sideline minority communities,” said Mr Maraga.
Siaya Governor Mr Orengo stated: “As the de facto leader of the ODM party, I am ready to work with you, Matiang'i and Kalonzo.”
Mr Orengo told Dr Matiang'i that he admired how he worked with the late Mr Odinga.
“When I see you here, I see the spirit of Raila. Matiang'i, Kalonzo, come, and I will take you to Nyanza, where you will witness for yourself that it is one-term. This funeral has set an agenda for Kenya,” said the Siaya governor.
Mr Sifuna, the Nairobi senator, criticised some ODM leaders from Gusii whom he accused of betraying and persecuting him.
“I did not know they would be among those persecuting me. Can you imagine we are being asked, ‘Where is your baba?’ We want to make it easy to send President William Ruto home. That won't be very easy,” said Mr Sifuna.
“As the leader of Linda Mwananchi, I am ready to work with you, Dr Fred Matiang'i,” he added.
Opposition leaders during the burial of Teresia Nyaboke Omoke, mother of Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, at Monarch Hotel in Kitutu Chache South, Kisii County on May 15, 2026.
Mr Owino, the MP for Embakasi East, said the current government is oppressing Kenyans as high fuel prices affect everything else.
“We are ready to work with Matiang'i and Kalonzo,” said Mr Owino.
Mr Osotsi, the Vihiga Senator, stated: “We want all votes from Western Kenya to go into one basket, and we will ensure we have one candidate to send Ruto home.”
Ms Ruth Odinga, the Kisumu Woman Representative, said the spirit at Onyonka's mother’s burial was reminiscent of the late Odinga.
“I cannot leave ODM; the wananchi are the ground,” she said.
Ms Winnie presented her mother Ida Odinga’s condolences and urged leaders in government to focus on what matters. She accused the Kenya Kwanza regime of failing to follow the constitutional framework.
“Leaders in government don't know how to talk to people. You must talk with respect. The economy is in bad shape, youths are jobless, businesses are closing, yet leaders lack focus. Talk less and work more,” she said.
“The National Treasury is not a political office, nor is it personal property. It's not a platform for you to abuse us,” she added.
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