Jubilee Party aspirants from the larger Gusii region have urged opposition leaders to urgently agree on a joint presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that continued delays could hand President William Ruto an easy path to victory.
The largely youthful politicians said Kenyans were increasingly anxious to know who would emerge as the opposition’s flag bearer, arguing that prolonged competition among opposition leaders could split the anti-government vote and work in President Ruto’s favour.
While calling for consultations, the aspirants openly backed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, saying he possesses the experience, national exposure and administrative credentials required to lead the country.
“As Jubilee Party aspirants, we are pressing the opposition to urgently convene a meeting and thrash out this issue once and for all. We want to go full swing and campaign for one candidate,” said Borabu parliamentary aspirant Morara Kebaso.
Kebaso said Matiang’i “fits the bill” and could spearhead the economic and institutional reforms the country needs.
“He has the experience and national outlook required to take this country forward,” he said.
The aspirants, including senatorial hopeful Adams Mochenwa, Kebaso, Bouse Mairura, Calvin Omwando and Kisii Woman Representative aspirant Rose Orondo, were campaigning in Nyamira County.
They spoke at Mokomoni shopping centre in Borabu while drumming up support for Kebaso and Mochenwa, who hosted the campaign.
Kitutu Masaba parliamentary hopeful Clive Ogwora warned opposition leaders against what he described as dangerous political dilly-dallying.
“Kenyans are already growing impatient. Come up with one person whom they can rally behind. The opposition cannot wait until the last minute and expect Kenyans to follow them blindly,” Ogwora said.
Kebaso also warned against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 presidential election in favour of the incumbent.
“Nobody should imagine that they will rig the 2027 election for Ruto and get away with it. Kenyans are watching, and we shall defend every vote from the polling station to the final tally,” he said.
Mairura said the opposition must bury personal ambitions and political egos if it genuinely wants to defeat the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“The opposition must stop playing games. Sit down, negotiate and agree on one candidate. If you genuinely want to defeat Ruto, this is not the time for five people to be chasing the same presidency,” he said.
He also challenged young Kenyans to obtain voter cards, warning that political change would remain a slogan unless citizens were prepared to participate in the electoral process.
“We cannot think of changing bad leaders without voter cards. Let us be intentional in securing them,” Mairura said.
He said the opposition would be making a strategic blunder by entering the 2027 contest as “scattered soldiers”.
Omwando, an aspirant for Kitutu Chache South, echoed the call, saying the arithmetic of a divided opposition would favour Ruto.
“The mathematics are very clear. If the opposition divides its vote, Ruto benefits. We are telling our leaders: stop the chest-thumping and start negotiating now,” he said.
Omwando also accused the Ruto administration of diverting major development projects that he claimed had initially been earmarked for the Gusii region to other parts of the country.
He singled out the proposed airport project in the South Rift and a planned 4,000-bed specialised hospital, arguing that the projects had been presented as transformative investments for the region.
“We cannot continue watching as projects meant for our people are quietly rerouted to other regions. The Gusii community deserves to know what happened to the airport and the 4,000-bed hospital that we were told would come here,” Omwando said.
He accused the government of denying the Gusii region what he termed its rightful share of national development.
On the presidential race, Omwando said Matiang’i had the qualities to be a formidable contender but maintained that the final choice must be made through consultations within the opposition.
“Matiang’i has the experience, discipline and national exposure required to lead this country. But what we need now is a united opposition that can agree on a candidate capable of carrying the aspirations of millions of Kenyans,” he said.
The aspirants said Gusii voters would be a critical bloc in the 2027 presidential contest and warned opposition leaders against taking the region’s support for granted.
They also demanded that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission guarantee a transparent and credible election, warning that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process could trigger a political backlash.
Away from the presidential contest, Ogwora took aim at incumbent Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, telling him to prepare to leave office.
He claimed voters in the constituency were ready for a political transition and would not “recycle” leaders.
“When your time is over, you make way for somebody else,” Ogwora said, accusing Gisairo of failing the electorate.
The aspirants said their Nyamira campaign was part of a wider effort to consolidate support for Jubilee Party candidates while building momentum for Matiang’i ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
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