A nascent political formation is fighting for its space, promising to offer a better alternative to the established order, with its main agenda being to make Dr William Ruto a one-term president.
This is not Kenya Kwanza, the broad-based government or the United Opposition, but youthful lawmakers drawn from across the political divide who are jostling to step from the shadows of their parties.
The Kenya Moja Alliance wants to morph into a force to reckon with, setting the stage for the emergence of a third force ahead of the General Election in 2027.
The movement threatens to disrupt the established tradition of a “two-horse race” as it positions itself as the “alternative voice”.
Tracing its origins to the aftermath of the deadly Gen-Z protests in mid-2024 and the establishment of the broad-based government, the outfit is keen to test the political waters with eyes on disenfranchised voters.
Led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East lawmaker Babu Owino, the group says it is keen on uniting disillusioned voters around calls for transparency, economic reforms and the end of tribal-based politics.
Other prominent Kenya Moja members are MPs Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri), Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu), Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti) and Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai).
Riding on the momentum of the nationwide Gen Z-led protests and the ensuing disgruntlement with the current regime, the leaders have been bullish in their opposition to the broad-based government, a brainchild of President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who died on October 15.
Mr Owino has been at loggerheads with ODM over his Nairobi gubernatorial bid, saying he is ready to take the independent route as he seeks to unseat Governor Johnson Sakaja.
He has expressed fears of not being treated fairly by ODM due to his criticism of the broad-based government.
From left: MPs Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Caleb Amisi, Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri) and Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti), during a women's empowerment funds drive in Saboti Constituency on August 03, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Nairobi Senator Sifuna has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the broad-based government, saying he does not recognise any entity with such a name.
He has even threatened to resign from the secretary-general position if ODM formally makes the decision to support President Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
The broad-based arrangement came into force last year following the signing of a working MoU between President Ruto and Odinga, a decision that saw some ODM officials co-opted into the Kenya Kwanza government.
Kenya Moja is opposed to President Ruto’s leadership, with Mr Kibagendi at one time accusing the administration of failing a majority of Kenyans by imposing punitive taxes and coming up with policies that have made the cost of living unbearable.
The leaders see themselves as an avenue to offer checks and balances to the regime, saying Parliament has been reduced to a rubber stamp of the Executive.
“We are not a third force but the only force. There isn’t any other alternative. Kenya Moja leaders are not rebels. We are working within the principles and dictates of democracy,” Mr Owino said.
Said to be targeting young voters, estimated to be 14 million, the movement is positioning itself as a generational shift in leadership.
“This is a struggle between the old guard and young leaders. The resistance is there. We are being threatened day and night, but we have developed a thick skin. Woe unto you if our skin gets thicker,” Mr Amisi told the Weekly Review.
They have also hinted at joining forces with like-minded opposition leaders to build a formidable political front that will take on President Ruto, saying nothing will come in the way of their ambition.
“Whatever happens, we will remain united. We are ready to risk our lives for the agenda we believe in. We will not remain silent when things go wrong,” Mr Sifuna said.
“Some people say we are not capable of leading this country. We tell them that God gave you those positions, and He can lift others to leadership too.”
Political commentator Macharia Munene says Kenya Moja is part of the “usual” political posturing as a General Election approaches.
He says there are only two protagonists – President Ruto and Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
“The aim of Kenya Moja is to create enough noise to be talked to by the protagonists. They have to be seen to be there and recognised,” said the professor of History and International Relations at the United States International University.
Prof Munene dismisses the group for lacking an ideology, describing it as a movement merely attempting to create political space for itself.
“The noise is a bargaining chip to make people relevant when things are not going their way. As 2027 approaches, we are likely to see many people experimenting in politics. There is a possibility that either of the two major formations sponsors some,” he said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also dismisses Kenya Moja, saying the 2027 presidential election will be a two-horse race.
“If you leave the United opposition and go on to form a third force, the people of Kenya will not accept that. They attempted to create something called Kenya Moja Alliance, but one of them was unmasked by Ruto people as a government spy. Kenyans are intelligent,” Mr Gachagua said.
“Whoever will be picked by the United Opposition to face Ruto will win and become the sixth president of Kenya.”
Political commentator Joshua Nyamori dismisses suggestions that Kenya Moja can be a major political force.
“When you say a force to reckon with, I laugh. The individuals in the so-called third force have no political traction. These are creations of certain politicians in government or the opposition,” Mr Nyamori said.
Mr Javas Bigambo, another pundit, says Kenya Moja lacks political capability and capacity to contest the presidency, adding that it is a paper tiger.
He says the group has a semblance of a political cause, but because the cause is not institutionalised or grounded within a party or an ideology, Kenya Moja cannot pass as a strong political movement.
“They are rebels without a cause. What are they rebelling against or towards? Making Ruto a one-term president is far-fetched. They cannot make anyone a president or stop one from being one,” Mr Bigambo said.
“If you were to ask the leaders what they are fighting for, they will say they don’t agree with President Ruto. That means if you remove the person of Ruto, they have no cause. That is the problem. Their fight is not grounded in ideology or institutionalised.”
He says the movement can be an ingredient for galvanising a campaign team, but questions whether Kenya Moja can remain unified until 2027.
“Given their age and vigour, these leaders are able to galvanise discussions around important issues. If pushed to the wall, however, they will look at something to latch on because they can drown,” Mr Bigambo added.
“Considering that reality, it is possible to conclude that the Kenya Moja team is made up of individuals who have come together with the desire to seek national attention, but they are not a force that is going to determine who is going to become the country’s president.”
According to Mr Bigambo, the figurehead of the movement, Senator Sifuna, is a political novice whose only claim to national fame is being ODM secretary-general.
“Left to his own devices, Senator Sifuna can be buffeted by political storms. Nairobi is not loyal politically. What is his political bedrock? Is the Gen-Z movement online sufficient to make someone a political force? The answer is no,” he said.
