Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (front, second left) with other opposition leaders when they met in Nairobi.
The united opposition has called for crucial talks aimed at ironing out simmering differences that threaten its unity, scheduled ahead of the November 27 by-elections.
The retreat tentatively planned for the first week of October will also give the opposition principals an opportunity to select their preferred coalition name, as proposed by the technical committee, a ranking member at the centre of preparation told Saturday Nation.
The coalition’s proposed names, according to members of the technical committee who confided in Nation are Muungano Wa Ukombozi, Komboa Kenya Alliance, Liberation Alliance Movement and Mageuzi Coalition.
“The secretariat urged the principals to approve a coalition name and officials for the coalition to kick off,” said the source, who spoke in confidence. “It also noted that the technical team wished to know the kind of approach to be used in regards to the upcoming by-elections, hence the need for the retreat.”
Mr Gachagua’s recent surprise bid for the presidency in 2027 has jolted the political scene, with allies insisting the move is a calculated opposition tactic to rally supporters ahead of the next election, but internally, some principals are said to have been caught off guard by the declaration.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arrives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the US on August 21, 2025.
However, the move has led to speculation that the opposition could crumble under the weight of competing ambitions. Comparisons have been drawn to the failed Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (Ford) experiment of 1992, when competing interests prevented the opposition from defeating President Daniel arap Moi.
Although branded as a ‘united opposition’ against President William Ruto, insiders say the outfit has been riddled with mistrust and competing ambitions, undermining its ability to project unity, hence the need for the principals to bond.
The retreat, insiders revealed, will bring together opposition principals, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Democratic Party chief Justin Muturi and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua.
On Friday, Mr Wamalwa, one of the principals in the opposition outfit, sought to downplay claims of divisions in the camp, but confirmed to Nation that indeed a retreat is to be held “soon”.
“The retreat is coming so that we can plan our coalition issues. It will be soon,” asserted Mr Wamalwa.
The planned meeting comes as President Ruto, backed by Mr Odinga, steps up a political offensive, leaving Mr Gachagua’s camp under pressure to resolve internal wrangles or risk losing relevance ahead of 2027.
Even as Mr Wamalwa denied reports of division, under the surface of public unity, silent power struggles are already playing out among top members of the team.
One pits former President Uhuru Kenyatta (Jubilee) and former DP Gachagua (DCP) over who should fly the opposition’s presidential flag.
While the two leaders have publicly spoken of unity and a common goal to unseat President Ruto, insiders reveal a deepening rift over preferred candidates and control of party machinery.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
At the heart of the silent wars is a fierce contest between two top opposition hopefuls — Dr Matiang’i and Mr Musyoka, the Wiper party leader, but Mr Gachagua’s recent tough talk over his candidacy has even stirred the waters.
Mr Kenyatta, who has maintained a relatively low political profile since leaving office, is reportedly backing Dr Matiang’i, and insiders believe that his party’s scheduled National Delegates Convention (NDC), next week could hand the instruments of the party to the former CS.
The feud and mistrust recently played out when Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, a close ally of Mr Gachagua sensationally claimed “Dr Matiang’i is a State project and a creation of the NIS,” before he later retracted.
Dr Matiang’i has, however, denied claims of being a project, amid claims that he is former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2027 project.
“What does that mean? To be someone’s project?” he asked.
The former CS noted that Mr Kenyatta appointed him as Cabinet Secretary for 10 years across three significant portfolios.
“If it’s a question of service, why are you not asking me if I’m the World Bank’s project, because I’ve just come from there?” he posed during a recent interview on Citizen TV.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta shares a word with former interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi and other former Cabinet Secretaries when they condoled with Dr Barbara Odudu Magoha, widow of former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha on January 31, 2023, in Lavington, Nairobi County.
Dr Matiang’i-linked United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has also insisted on fielding a parliamentary candidate (Rev. Isaak Muringi) in Mbeere North Constituency even after Mr Gachagua’s DCP withdrew its candidate in favour of Mr Newton Kariuki of Mr Muturi’s DP, signaling possible bad blood in the coalition.
In Malava, DCP has also insisted on backing Collins Busiega against DAP-K’s Seth Panyako, the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses, who is seen as a frontrunner.
Mr Wamalwa on Friday exuded confidence that the opposition camp will reach an agreement and back the most popular candidate in the November 27 by-election.
“We shall come to an agreement over a single candidate in Malava. We were waiting for the results of a scientific polling which came out yesterday (Thursday), showing our candidate on the lead. We are in talks and hope to come to an agreement,” said Mr Wamalwa.
But the tensions do not stop there.
In Western Kenya, a parallel turf war is playing out between Mr Wamalwa and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
Despite being Mr Wamalwa’s political protégé, having been elected in his party DAP-K’s ticket in the last election, Mr Natembeya has emerged as a formidable figure through his ‘Tawe Movement’, which has drawn massive grassroots support in the region.
Observers note that Mr Natembeya’s growing popularity and frequent public criticisms of both Kenya Kwanza and some opposition stalwarts have left Mr Wamalwa feeling politically eclipsed.
The strained relationship between the two is said to be complicating DAP-K’s position in the broader opposition coalition talks.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, a key ally of Dr Matiang’i, revealed that they have since set up a team to explore the options of running on Jubilee or resorting to a regional party just like other political leaders, who have declared interest to challenge President Ruto’s re-election.
“The truth is that we have a team that is looking at that matter. There are those who feel that he needs a national party with name recognition and national structure. But there are also those who are saying that all serious political players have their parties, which have regional identity,” said Mr Onyonka.
Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, an ally of Mr Gachagua, says the former DP’s 2027 presidential bid should not be misconstrued to mean divisions in the opposition camp as each principal has a duty to mobilize his support bases.
He said the opposition had agreed that each principal would return to their regions to rally grassroots support before engaging in negotiations on the presidential ticket.
“One of the ways of having people coalesce around you is by telling them your ambitions. People cannot follow you if you don’t tell them your plans. He (Gachagua) has to energise Mt Kenya by declaring his presidential ambition,” said Mr Muriu.
He recalled that, in the run-up to the 2022 election, leaders such as Moses Wetang’ula and Musalia Mudavadi had declared interest in the presidency before joining a coalition ticket.
Mr Onyonka also argued that declarations of ambition are essential in politics.
“I don’t see any contradictions in the pronouncement by Mr Gachagua. If you don’t tell people that you are running, how do you expect them to follow you?” he posed.
Kitutu Chache MP Richard Onyonka who has denied claims that Ford Kenya is holding secret talks with Deputy President William Ruto ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi argues that the opposition’s plan is to elevate regional kingpins before rallying behind one candidate.
“What you are seeing is part of our strategy against Ruto. We want to create influential regional kingpins before we finally rally behind our presidential candidate,” he explained. Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua insisted that the opposition must present a united front.
“The principals in the opposition ranks know better than anyone else that this election will not be about egos or entitlements. It will be about winning for the millions of Kenyans who are frustrated and fed up with the atrocities of the Ruto regime,” he said. He warned that Kenyans would not forgive leaders who put personal ambition ahead of collective interests.
“It is okay for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and any other qualified Kenyan to declare interest in the presidency. But when the time comes, and this will be soon, a collegiate decision will be made to pick the best-suited person among all those who will have expressed interest in the seat,” he said.
