Wanjigi challenges Opposition to put Kenyans before power deals

Safina Party Leader Jimmy Wanjigi has challenged Opposition leaders to move beyond boardroom negotiations and political bargaining in their quest to forge a formidable coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Wanjigi says the focus should now shift from who gets what position to the bigger question of what the Opposition intends to offer Kenyans, arguing that the electorate is looking for a clear political agenda capable of addressing the country’s economic and social challenges.

According to the Presidential aspirant, the Opposition leaders must resist the temptation to reduce coalition talks to negotiations over the Presidency, running mate slots and other positions, insisting that Kenyans want agenda-based politics rather than leaders primarily driven by the pursuit of power.

He argued that the Opposition should first agree on a transformative national programme and a credible candidate capable of championing it, warning that power-sharing arrangements without a compelling agenda risk failing to inspire voters seeking meaningful change.

“It’s not about leaders locking themselves behind a room and negotiating who becomes the Presidential flagbearer; Kenyans must vet which Presidential candidate stands for economic liberation,” he said.

Wanjigi’s reaction comes five days after former President Uhuru Kenyatta rallied the Opposition leaders to remain united ahead of next year’s general election while urging them to start negotiations and present one candidate who would face President William Ruto in the next year’s general election.

Uhuru, who asked Kirinyaga Women Representative Njeri Maina to deliver a message to the mourners who attended the burial ceremony of Mwalimu Jackson Karua, father to People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, challenged the Opposition principals to begin negotiations and accept whoever emerges as their joint presidential candidate.

She said opposition supporters would back the candidate agreed upon by the leaders, regardless of whether that person was former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka or another opposition figure.

“The Opposition leaders who include Kalonzo Musyoka, Edwin Sifuna, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua and Fred Matiangi should lock themselves in a room and even if they want to fight they should do it provided that they emerge with one Presidential candidate,” Njeri said as Uhuru stood beside her.

Wanjigi said such agreements could not offer Kenyans solutions to issues affecting them, even as he questioned Uhuru’s involvement in organising next year’s elections.

“The 2027 general election should be about ways in which we shall alleviate the pain that Kenyans are going through; it should be about the debt mess that the country has sunk into but it should never be about who gets what in the political lineup,” Wanjigi added.

He also likened Ruto’s regime to Uhuru’s, saying only the form changed but substance remained intact and that there was nothing Ruto was doing outside what Uhuru's presidency did, saying the only difference was how it is being done.

Additionally, Wanjigi dismissed the rebranding of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition into Ukombozi Alliance, questioning whether it was a genuine liberation movement, or a carefully calculated instrument for managing public anger, demobilising the Gen Zs and reorganising the opposition to maintain the status quo.

“The lineup might end up coming with a Kalonzo-Sifuna ticket which could consolidate some opposition constituencies while marginalising other key challengers. It could reduce the 2027 presidential election to two dominant horses: Ruto and his running mate on one side, and the Uhuru-backed Ukombozi ticket on the other along with the candidates,” he said.

 He cautioned that such an arrangement could benefit Ruto, especially after voters concluded that the opposition ticket was designed by familiar political elites, a move he said could turn frustration into apathy, saying a divided or demoralised opposition electorate would favour an incumbent possessing state machinery, substantial resources and an established campaign network.

 “This is where the old Uhuruto relationship becomes relevant. Uhuru and Ruto may publicly attack one another, but Kenyan elite politics has repeatedly shown that today’s “enemies” can become tomorrow’s partners when political succession, wealth and family interests are at stake.

In any case, Ruto has not gone after the Kenyattas despite rampant allegations of theft of public resources, including the Eurobond. It just could be a case of “scratch my back, I scratch yours.”