Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has publicly backed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as his preferred presidential candidate should he fail to secure the United Opposition’s ticket ahead of the 2027 General Election, piling fresh pressure on the coalition to settle the question of its flag bearer.
Speaking during a church service at Around the Globe Deliverance Ministries in Kamulu on Sunday, Muturi departed from the coalition’s cautious approach to succession politics, saying the opposition should stop delaying the process of identifying its presidential candidate.
“I want to say this while I am here today and God help me. If it will not be me, I will support my brother Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka to be the flagbearer.”
He later reiterated his position, saying: “If I’m not selected as the presidential candidate, the only other principal in the United Opposition I can support is Kalonzo. Let’s stop beating around the bush.”
Muturi also broke ranks with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s proposal that the opposition should delay naming its presidential candidate until shortly before the election, similar to the strategy adopted by the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) in 2002.
“The lesson to learn is that the delay in Moi naming the candidate caused the collapse of Kanu.”
According to Muturi, postponing the announcement of a flag bearer and allowing each coalition principal to consolidate support in their respective regions could weaken the opposition’s chances of uniting in time for the election.
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He argued that the coalition should shift its focus from debating when to unveil a candidate to agreeing on who should carry the opposition’s presidential ticket.
“Anything we try to do; I can assure you will be hijacked by President William Ruto. So we must move this conversation forward.”
Muturi further criticised what he described as fear within the opposition, insisting there was no strategic advantage in withholding the identity of its preferred candidate.
“Why are we being cowards? Let us stop saying that we are playing some cards very close to our chest. Which chest?”
His remarks come as the United Opposition- comprising Kalonzo, Gachagua, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i continue holding joint rallies while maintaining that it will eventually field a single presidential candidate against President William Ruto.
The coalition has also been courting leaders associated with the ODM “Linda Mwananchi” faction, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, as it seeks to broaden its support ahead of the 2027 polls.
Although opposition leaders have repeatedly pledged to unite behind one candidate, they are yet to announce the criteria or timeline for selecting their presidential flag bearer, even as several principals continue to be mentioned as possible contenders.
Muturi’s endorsement of Kalonzo contrasts with the more guarded position adopted by other coalition leaders, who have largely insisted they will support whoever emerges through an agreed selection process.
Martha Karua, who has also expressed interest in the presidential ticket, has previously ruled out serving as a running mate while pledging to support the coalition’s eventual nominee if she is unsuccessful.
“I will not be a running mate. I will do my best to be that united opposition candidate, but should somebody else be chosen, I am willing to support them without being their running mate,” she said during an interview on Citizen TV.
Karua has also called for a formal coalition agreement to guide the selection of the flag bearer and bind all principals to support the eventual nominee.
“I long for the day that we will have a written document as the opposition rules of the game, which everybody signs, committing to abide by those rules and support whoever is selected,” she said.
She added that such an agreement should be accompanied by a joint manifesto outlining the coalition’s shared policy agenda regardless of who secures the presidential ticket.
Meanwhile, the debate over the coalition’s leadership has continued to draw proposals from allies of various opposition leaders.
Over the weekend, Democracy for Citizens Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala proposed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the coalition’s running mate, arguing that the Western region should be considered for the deputy presidency if it does not produce the presidential candidate.
“We as the Luhya community have said we are not asking for the presidency. We are reserving the deputy presidency. Whether the opposition settles on Kalonzo, Gachagua or Matiang’i as its presidential candidate, those who do not get the ticket should support the chosen candidate,” he said.
Malala proposed Sifuna for the position but added that if he is not selected, another leader from the Western region, including Eugene Wamalwa, should be considered.
The United Opposition has yet to communicate when it will unveil its presidential candidate, even as calls grow from within the coalition for an early decision to strengthen its preparations for the 2027 General Election.
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