Former UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi says Kenya’s opposition must unite behind a single presidential candidate if it hopes to defeat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in an interview with Citizen TV, Mr Kituyi said opposition leaders had agreed that their best chance of mounting a serious challenge would be to avoid splitting the vote.
“We remain committed to fielding a single presidential candidate against President Ruto,” Kituyi said.
He said the agreement remained in place even among politicians who had presidential ambitions of their own.
“All of the leaders, even when they hope they will be the presidential candidate, are still committed that we will be fielding one person,” he said.
Kituyi said he would back whoever the opposition eventually chooses as its flag-bearer. For now, however, he said his preferred candidate was Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the leader of Linda Mwananchi.
“I would support whoever the United Opposition picks as their preferred candidate, and I will work with them,” he said. “As of now, my preferred candidate is Sifuna.”
Kituyi also made clear that he was not seeking the presidency in 2027. Instead, he said he wanted to help the opposition develop a political programme that could offer voters a clear alternative to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He said the opposition should not base its campaign only on criticism of Mr Ruto’s government. It should also explain what it would do differently if elected.
Several opposition figures, including former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, former Justice Minister Martha Karua and Siaya Governor James Orengo, have backed efforts to develop what Kituyi described as a political covenant with voters.
The former UNCTAD chief said the opposition needed to agree on specific issues and make clear commitments to the electorate.
He also praised Mr Matiang’i, saying the former Cabinet secretary had qualities that could help deliver an alternative government.
“If you agree that this is going to be done, Matiang’i will break walls to get it delivered,” Kituyi said.
On the opposition’s potential presidential contenders, Kituyi suggested that Sifuna’s growing prominence had changed the political calculations.
“I don’t think Eugene Wamalwa remains in contention after the rise of Sifuna,” he said.
Kituyi nevertheless spoke positively of Martha Karua, praising what he described as her consistent position on justice.
With the 2027 election still ahead, opposition leaders face the difficult task of settling their individual ambitions and agreeing on a candidate who can command support across their competing political bases.
For Kituyi, the priority is clear: the opposition must present a united front and give voters a credible programme for governing the country.
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