Criteria 'united opposition' can use to identify their flag-bearer

From left: Former CS Mithika Linturi, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former AG Justin Muturi and Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti during a rally at Mulu Mutisya grounds, on May 30, 2025. [John Muia, Standard]

If I were to serve as the lead consultant tasked with helping the united opposition identify the most compelling presidential candidate to face the incumbent, I would approach the task not with political instinct alone but with a structured and principled lens. Selecting a flag bearer for the highest office is not a mere contest of popularity, party seniority, or historical alignment. It is, more than ever, a call to interrogate leadership quality, public readiness, and transformative potential. I would recommend a performance-based evaluation framework, one that honours both experience and promise, while focusing squarely on the ability to serve citizens with competence, integrity, and vision.

The first criterion I would apply relates to demonstrable performance. What can the public clearly and directly associate with the candidate in terms of real-world results? Just as any job applicant is expected to present achievements or potential at an interview, so too should a presidential hopeful present a convincing record or promise of public value. For younger candidates or those without prior executive roles, there should be evidence of high potential, such as leading a movement, launching an innovation, or organising communities towards a common goal. For more seasoned aspirants, it is imperative that a visible trail of accomplishments show they have improved the lives or institutions they have touched. Voters want to see practical results, not just impressive CVs or recycled rhetoric. In this category, the top candidates score at least ten out of fifteen possible points.