Opposition leaders Rigathi Gachagua, Fred Matiang’i and Kalonzo Musyoka have held a high-profile meeting amid growing political disagreements threatening to derail efforts to build a united front against President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The meeting brought together three of the country’s prominent opposition figures at a time when questions have emerged over political leadership, regional influence and the strategy the opposition should adopt to challenge Ruto in the next presidential contest.
Former Deputy President Gachagua, Jubilee Party leader Matiang’i and Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo appeared together on Sunday, November 8, in what could signal renewed efforts to address the divisions emerging within the opposition.
Matiang’i shared photographs of the meeting on his social media platforms, accompanying them with a brief but significant message emphasising the importance of national unity.
“Brothers will always put Kenya first,” Matiang’i wrote.
His message attracted attention because the meeting came shortly after disagreements involving Gachagua and other opposition leaders over how the emerging political formation should be structured.
Although the three leaders did not immediately disclose details of their discussions, their meeting raised hopes that the opposition principals could be working towards resolving their differences before the next election.
The engagement followed controversy surrounding Gachagua’s proposal for a political arrangement bringing together three major voting blocs under his preferred opposition strategy.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader had suggested an alliance involving his political camp in the Mt Kenya region, Kalonzo’s influence in Ukambani and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s growing political influence in Western Kenya.
Gachagua argued that combining the three political bases could give the opposition sufficient numbers to defeat Ruto.
However, his proposal appeared to leave out several other influential opposition figures, including Matiang’i, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Ndindi Nyoro.
The proposal did not go down well with some leaders, who questioned whether the opposition could achieve unity through arrangements that appeared to prioritise particular regions and political personalities.
Matiang’i criticised what he described as majoritarian arrogance, warning that the approach could undermine efforts to bring opposition leaders together.
He argued that Kenya’s presidency should not be determined by dividing the country into regional or ethnic voting blocs.
His position exposed the differences between leaders who believe the opposition should first consolidate its numerical strength and those advocating for a broader national political arrangement.
Gachagua subsequently defended his political approach, insisting that his remarks were driven by honesty rather than arrogance.
The former Deputy President has maintained that defeating Ruto requires serious grassroots mobilisation and that political leaders must demonstrate their ability to deliver votes.
The disagreements escalated after Matiang’i and Justin Muturi publicly criticised Gachagua’s approach to opposition politics.
The two leaders questioned his conduct towards fellow opposition principals, warning that confrontational politics could weaken the coalition before the 2027 elections.
Gachagua, however, challenged his critics to demonstrate their own political strength instead of relying on meetings and public statements.
The differences also exposed another major challenge facing the opposition: determining how the presidential candidate will be selected.
Kalonzo has previously pushed for an early resolution of the presidential ticket, while Gachagua has favoured allowing negotiations to continue before settling on a flagbearer.
Matiang’i, meanwhile, has advocated for a transparent process that gives Kenyans an opportunity to participate in determining the coalition’s candidate.
The former Interior Cabinet secretary has also maintained that opposition leaders should first concentrate on building a strong political team before deciding who should lead it into the presidential contest.
Apart from Gachagua, Kalonzo and Matiang’i, other notable figures in the emerging opposition formation include Sifuna, Muturi, Karua, Wamalwa and Nyando MP Ndindi Nyoro.
Their involvement demonstrates that efforts to consolidate the opposition have been ongoing, although disagreements over leadership and political strategy continue to complicate the process.
Gachagua has maintained that he is committed to supporting a single opposition presidential candidate, even if he does not eventually secure the ticket.
However, the challenge will be convincing all the competing political camps to accept a common strategy and rally behind one candidate.
The November 8 meeting between Gachagua, Matiang’i and Kalonzo could therefore represent an important step towards rebuilding trust among the opposition principals.
Whether the engagement will lead to a lasting political agreement remains to be seen.
For now, the three leaders have demonstrated that they can sit together despite their recent disagreements, with Matiang’i’s message of putting Kenya first offering a glimpse of the unity the opposition hopes to achieve.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, their ability to manage internal competition, agree on a common presidential candidate and mobilise supporters across the country could ultimately determine whether the opposition presents a united challenge to Ruto or enters the presidential race divided.
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