Opposition leaders agree to settle differences behind closed doors
Politics
By
Ndungu Gachane
| Aug 13, 2026
Opposition leaders Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi and Kalonzo Musyoka during a prayer session at Kefri Grounds in Kitui town on August 10, 2026. [Philip Muasya, Standard]
After months of public spat amongst themselves, Opposition leaders have now resolved to solve their differences internally without exposing their dirty linen in public.
The resolution was agreed upon on Tuesday after the leaders, who included Rigathi Gachagua (Democracy for Citizens Party), Martha Karua (People’s Liberation Party), Justin Muturi (Democratic Party) Peter Munya (Party of National Unity) and Lenny Kivuti (Democratic Empowerment Party).
The meeting was held in Nairobi and convened by Karua, co-convener of the United Alternative Government alongside Kalonzo Musyoka, who was represented at the meeting by Nyali MP Mohammed Ali.
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This followed talks between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalonzo Musyoka last week, and another meeting between Gachagua and Munya on the need for Opposition leaders to tone down their differences and avoid creating the perception of a divided camp incapable of challenging President William Ruto in next year’s election.
During the talks Muturi, Munya and Kivuti expressed their displeasure over Gachagua’s alleged overbearing and bullish character saying his treatment to them undermined the Opposition’s mission of working together while maintaining that his repeated remarks that Mt Kenya region was under one party undermined multi-party democracy.
Gachagua reportedly maintained that he was misinterpreted and assured his counterparts that all the parties needed each other to face the President even as he showed remorse to his counterparts.
“It was agreed that all principals would treat each other as equals going forward and that they will be solving our issues amicably without going public to prevent giving Ruto and government allies fodder to infiltrate and destabilise the Opposition. Our main aim is to liberate this country from corruption and human rights violations witnessed during Ruto’s regime,” a source who attended the meeting said.
Other than mending their public rifts, the leaders projected a united front, strategies and centered on mapping out the 2027 political roadmap.
After the meeting, Gachagua hailed Karua for bringing together leaders of the United Opposition
“Thank you, my sister, Martha Karua, for being the mother of our liberation and bringing us together.”
Gachagua further said leaders under the United Alternative Government were committed to presenting a single presidential candidate to Kenyans ahead of the 2027 polls.
‘‘The leaders in the United Alternative Government shall present to the people of Kenya one presidential candidate,” he said.
Gachagua said the leaders had renewed their commitment to working together and presenting a united front against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Last week, Muturi, Munya and Kivuti had gone public, accusing Gachagua of creating unnecessary divisions within the Opposition by calling on dissolution of other parties within Mt Kenya region.
“We call upon Gachagua to embrace structured dialogue, consultation and respectful engagement among all like-minded political parties,” Munya said.
According to Munya, it would be contradictory for parties to invest in building their own structures while at the same time being encouraged to merge into another outfit.
Muturi has also opposed Gachagua’s proposal to identify a presidential candidate, which, according to Gachagua, must be guided by the tyranny of numbers.