The United Opposition has warned the government against any interference in the 2027 General Election, saying they will not allow their votes to be stolen.
The leaders, who are working to craft a broad alliance ahead of the next polls, revived concerns over the electoral technology used in the 2022 General Election.
They specifically questioned the software provided by Smartmatic, the company that supplied the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS), arguing that it should not be used in the next election.
“I guarded the exam and it wasn’t stolen. You will not steal our votes,” Jubilee Party presidential hopeful Dr Fred Matiang’i said.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary spoke on Sunday at a church service in Nairobi’s Utawala area, where he also cautioned the government against using intimidation to suppress dissent. He referenced recent incidents in which opposition leaders have reported confrontations during their political engagements.
United Opposition leaders led by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua address supporters in Embakasi, Nairobi, after attending a church service at PCEA Utawala.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
“Mr President, you have once again misread the mood of the country. If we continue this way, we are headed in the wrong direction,” Dr Matiang’i said, adding that in 2024 the government similarly misjudged public sentiment, leading to the Gen Z protests.
Opposition leaders told the congregation they were setting aside individual ambitions to build a united front aimed at unseating President Ruto in 2027.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua said the emerging alliance had already put the government under pressure.
The opposition chiefs further framed their proposed alliance as both a political strategy and a moral mission against what they termed poor governance.
"Let us unite to liberate ourselves and rid this country of bad governance,” said People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua.
Her sentiments were echoed by DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, who criticised President William Ruto’s administration’s record, telling supporters that the country was experiencing what he described as ineffective leadership under the head of state.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka also raised concerns about the use of Smartmatic technology in the previous election.
“We will not allow Smartmatic to be used in the next election. This time round, we will ensure every vote counts,” Mr Musyoka said.
He urged young people to register in large numbers once the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) rolls out mass voter registration next month, signalling that youth mobilisation and voter turnout will be central to the opposition’s strategy.
“The mood in the country is restless. The people are demanding change,” Mr Musyoka said.
