Closing ranks: Political traffic at Wamunyoro intensifies as Gachagua hosts Kalonzo, Wamalwa

The Opposition unity is now taking shape following intense political discussions between Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Moments after Kalonzo and his delegation left Wamunyoro, Democratic Action Party leader Eugene Wamalwa and a section of the Luhya council of elders were ushered in for talks about when to announce the Opposition’s Presidential flagbearer, strict timelines of the electoral process, and internal affairs of the Opposition taking centre stage in the separate talks.

Kalonzo was first to arrive at Wamunyoro accompanied by Governors, Senators, MPS and party officials, where he and Gachagua held a separate meeting before holding a joint meeting between Wiper and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leaders.

Sources who attended the meeting disclosed that key among the issues that were discussed included when to announce the Opposition’s Presidential flag bearer, with the two sides agreeing to name the candidate early next year.

This, according to multiple sources, would give Opposition political parties a chance to consolidate their respective political strongholds before sitting at the negotiating table to determine who among them is best placed to face Ruto in 2027.

“There was consensus between the two sides that political players needed to consolidate their bases before negotiations kick off about who will be the Presidential aspirant, but there was also a general agreement that time was running, and that’s why parties agreed to name their Presidential candidate before February next year,” a source said.

The time frame for naming the Opposition’s Presidential flag bearer has been the thorn in the flesh among the Opposition parties, with leaders such as Kalonzo and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi reiterating that they needed to name their pick early to avoid confusion in the Opposition.

Muturi, who has publicly endorsed Kalonzo as his favourite Presidential candidate, warned that prolonged uncertainty could weaken the coalition’s preparations and undermine its momentum.

Gachagua of his party has stressed that there was no hurry to name the Opposition’s candidate, reviving the 2002 general election, when the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) declared the third President, the late Mwai Kibaki, as the coalition’s Presidential candidate.

Another issue that took centre stage in yesterday’s meeting was a strategy to vet the ‘briefcase’ political parties that continue to be formed and being rebranded to join the Opposition with leaders maintaining the need to be cautious about them as they may infiltrate and divide the Opposition from within for the benefit of the Opposition’s rivals.

"There were general concerns that there are small parties that are sprouting and wanting to associate themselves with the Opposition even when they lack structures and their source of money they are using to conduct political rallies remains a mystery,” another source said.

DCP Secretary General Designate John Methu disclosed that the two parties agreed to look for ‘real one-term political parties', claiming that leaders were proclaiming to be one-term believers but were not.

"The two leaders have also agreed that we shall look for like-minded partners who are real one-term team believers. We are looking for real one-term parties so that we shall work and walk together; anybody who believes that Ruto should go home can never think that if it’s not you then it's Ruto, we are saying it is anybody else but not Ruto,” he said.

Kitui Senator Enock Wambua said Kalonzo and Gachagua committed to bring together their political bases and other political formations to actualise their Wantam (one-term) agenda against Ruto.

"We have had cordial discussions and talks about the future of this country; they have committed themselves to work together and bring their political bases and other political formations together to make sure the Kenyan dream of one term for Ruto becomes a reality on August 10 next year. This visit will not be the last that Kenyans will see; the DCP leader has committed to visit his Wiper colleague in Tseukuru, and we have committed to back,” he said.

Gachagua challenged his Opposition counterparts to publicly commit to supporting whoever is chosen as the coalition’s flagbearer, warning that supporters threatening to back Ruto if their preferred candidate misses the ticket could weaken efforts to unite against the head of state.

He said such statements undermined efforts to build a united opposition capable of challenging Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

He called on leaders seeking the opposition presidential ticket to give clear directions to their supporters and publicly promise to support whoever is eventually agreed upon as the coalition’s flagbearer.

“Those of us who want to be president must tell our supporters to stop issuing some statements that if it is not so and so as the opposition presidential candidate, then we will vote for William Ruto,” he reportedly told the Kalonzo and Wamalwa delegations.

He criticised supporters who insist that their preferred candidate must be picked, saying such statements raise questions about their commitment to opposition unity.

He has in the past maintained that if not chosen as the flagbearer, he was ready to take up the role of director of the presidential campaign.

“If I will not be the opposition’s flag bearer, I will be the director of the presidential campaign,” Gachagua announced.

Additionally, the two party leaders reportedly discussed the conduct of DCP Deputy Cleophas Malala and that he and Gachagua had agreed to back Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the Opposition’s Presidential candidate, with Kalonzo’s side registering their discontent with Gachagua.

 According to sources, Kalonzo had raised the issue to Gachagua on Sunday, a move that led to Malala being asked by Gachagua to skip yesterday's talks.

“Careless remarks by Malala threatens the Opposition’s unity and as such, he was reprimanded by Gachagua to skip the yesterday’s talks, the DCP leader distanced himself with his Deputy’s talks remaining clear that there are party structures that are adhered to when the party position is to be taken,” a source said.

A day before the meeting, Kalonzo had warned that he would publicly name senior opposition politicians who are allegedly being funded and used by the government to destabilise and scuttle the United Opposition coalition.

Following his meeting with Kalonzo, Gachagua said the talks centred on ‘the liberation of our country and the formation of the 6th administration.’

“We are all in agreement that we shall make whatever sacrifices necessary to settle on one presidential candidate to be the captain of our struggle. Consultations continue

He described his Wamunyoro residence as an integral part of efforts to restore the country, signalling his continued role in consultations among opposition leaders.

Last week on Tuesday, Gachagua welcomed Sifuna and members of the Linda Mwananchi entourage to his residence, where they agreed to hold joint rallies together to amplify their opposition to Ruto’s administration.

Moments after Kalonzo’s meeting, Wamalwa and a section of the Luhya Council of Elders visited Wamunyoro armed with a bull as a sign of good gesture and political goodwill.

Gachagua is expected to visit Former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Ichaweri residence later this week to brief him on the political deliberations he has held with his Opposition counterparts.