Familiar script as opposition leaders vow to unite against Ruto

The shared desire to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election seems to have united a section of political leaders. The leaders have declared they are ready to sacrifice their individual ambitions to achieve the shared goal.

As People’s Liberation Party of Kenya (PLP), formerly Narc Kenya,  was unveiled on Thursday, senior politicians present talked of a possibility of forming a super coalition against the Kenya Kwanza government to “liberate the country from the yokes of oppression”.

In united voices, PLP leader Martha Karua, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, represented by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, said they are ready to support any one of them picked to lead the coalition.

They said they will plan, re-strategise and eventually develop a clear formula to pick a single candidate to face Ruto in the next elections, as they renewed their resolve to keep their purpose of unity stronger.

Karua said Ruto, his entire regime, and what he represents must not only be put to a stop but should also give way to the rule of law to reign.

“It does not have to be 2027 for him to go. It can be sooner. We will soon meet and give a programme of activities. For liberation of our country, we need unity of purpose and we call upon party leaders to show commitment,” said Karua, who was proposed as the convener of the group.

The leaders dismissed Ruto and his governance structure, which they termed as selfish and one that has ground the country to a halt.

Karua said she and like-minded leaders must thwart Ruto’s gradual graduation to being a dictator.

 “We are now looking at a coalition that is going to unite and liberate this country. I will begin with accepting the challenge given that I should unite or be the convener of this group subject to their consent. I am willing to do that,” Karua said.

She said PLP is not only rebranding to have a new look but also renewing commitment to fight for, unite and liberate Kenyans, in addition to standing with other leaders to accomplish this task, which cannot be accomplished by one person or political party.

“You may wonder how we are going to do this. I have expressed my wish to run for presidency, so has Kalonzo, and several others have that ambition, and everybody is worthy, every dream is valid, but we have to put Kenya first. It is (more) important that any of us,” Karua said.

She said each one of them with this ambition must subordinate their interests to those of the nation, and they will all queue behind that one person who will be selected as a candidate through a transparent method to be devised.

“I may have said that I do not want to be deputy. That doesn’t mean I cannot support another candidate. I do not have to be in that ticket but I will put my commitment if I am not the candidate to deliver victory to Kenyans,” she said.

Gachagua echoed the sentiments, saying the leaders have a heavy task to liberate the country, which can only be achieved if united for the purpose.

The impeached Ruto’s Deputy President agreed with other leaders who said they should continue strengthening their parties, mobilising support and sit down at the right time and come up with a formula to craft a lineup of leadership that will liberate the country and restore the dignity of Kenyans.

“I have been listening to the people, and Kenyans are telling our leaders to come up with a formula to send Ruto home. As leaders, we cannot fail the people. We have a responsibility to unite and dignify the pay slip. In a record two years, Ruto has destroyed health and education systems, the cost of living is unbearable and nothing is working. The two years have been nothing but a package of lies,” Gachagua said.

“Since I was born, I have never seen a liar like Ruto. He lies while looking at you. Many people from home have tried to blame me for introducing them to Ruto. If Ruto can lie to bishops, reverends and other anointed people, who am I? The politics of deceit is what we are struggling with. He came with a Bible, could sing every song in my mother tongue and we were all confused in the process,” the former DP said.

Gachagua dismissed claims that it will take too much work to unseat Ruto saying they have worked with him, know his ways and will dismantle him once they go full swing to campaign against him.

He claimed the Sh76 billion reported recently as error in the Budget is being used to bribe Kenyans and leaders to subscribe to government ways.

‘We will not stop Kenyans from taking the money. At Karen, a figure of Sh5000 has been set to listen to lies. You cannot listen to lies for five hours at Sh1,000 per hour. We want to agree on  a new rate. We must sacrifice to stand against Ruto. If we do not, we will have no country,” Gachagua said.

He also urged ODM leader Raila Odinga to tread carefully and avoid being misled, adding that the election of Ruto was the greatest fraud since independence.

Kalonzo said it will no longer be business as usual because the country is united against one person who claims to be uniting the country.

“Kenya is united against Ruto and it is evident today (Thursday). We are going to do the necessary and important things after today. It cannot be that we meet here just to celebrate rebranding. What we have in the house will be bigger than 2002 because Kenyans have every reason to rise and say no to misrule,” Kalonzo said.

The former Vice President said theirs will be an action oriented movement to escalate the liberate theme.

“From today, the country has seen unity. It cannot be the same,” Kalonzo said.