The former deputy president’s move to anoint Kalonzo Musyoka as the opposition’s preferred flagbearer has split key principals, fuelled accusations of political self-interest and raised fresh doubts about whether the coalition can survive long enough to challenge President William Ruto.
As Kenya’s opposition navigates an uneasy search for a single candidate ahead of the next polls to challenge President William Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua’s public endorsement of veteran politician Kalonzo Musyoka has accelerated an already fraught contest over leadership inside the opposition, exposing competing ambitions and the absence of an agreed roadmap to 2027.
Rigathi Gachagua has ruled that the Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, will not consider walking out of the United Opposition based on the massive backing the group is getting from the Mt Kenya region heading into the 2027 general election.
Having declared his presidency in the forthcoming general polls in December 2025, Kalonzo Musyoka is thought of considering other avenues as the United Opposition dilly-dallies on fronting a presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto at the ballot.
Speaking on K24 TV on Monday, January 12, 2026, Gachagua also said the Wiper leader is not that daft to walk away from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region to go and gamble for numbers elsewhere. Gachagua further added that Kalonzo is smart enough not to do the same thing as Ruto.
”I don’t think Kalonzo will be foolish to leave because of a million votes. He will be like Ruto. He left the mountain and went to Luo-Nyanza. He left 5 million votes in search of 1.5 million votes. I don’t think Kalonzo is that daft!” Gachagua said.
Mike Makarina, a politician and an ambassador for people living with disabilities, has dismissed the current lineup of the United Opposition, claiming that if this is the team set to challenge President William Ruto, then the president has already secured victory.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Makaraina expressed his lack of confidence in the United Opposition, noting that in 2022, the Azimio coalition had a strong team backed by the sitting president, yet Ruto still defeated them at the ballot.
According to Makarina, for President William Ruto to win, he only needs a million votes from the Mt Kenya region, something that he believes he already has.
“Nataka niambie Ruto hii si teamu ya kukushtua; Ruto anataka only one million votes from Mt Kenya ndio anashinde, na already ako nayo. Wewe unaweza shindana na mtu kama huyu?” Makarina said.
