Kalonzo, Gachagua to hold another meeting at Wamunyoro

Rigathi Gachagua hosts Kalonzo Musyoka and Ukambani leaders at Wamunyoro, Nyeri, on October 26, 2026. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Wiper Patriotic Front Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Democracy for Citizens Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua are set to have another meeting at Wamunyoro, with the focus being to unite the opposition.

This will be happening barely one week after Gachagua hosted Kalonzo and a team of his allies last week on Monday, a few days after returning from the United States of America, where he had spent nearly two months meeting Kenyans in various states.

Sources who attended the meeting between Gachagua and Kalonzo last week disclosed that key among the issues that were discussed was when to announce the opposition presidential flagbearer, with the two sides agreeing to name the candidate early next year.

This, according to multiple sources, would give Opposition political parties a chance to consolidate their respective political strongholds before sitting at the negotiating table to determine who among them is best placed to face Ruto in 2027.

“There was consensus between the two sides that political players needed to consolidate their bases before negotiations kick off about who will be the Presidential aspirant, but there was also a general agreement that time was running, and that’s why parties agreed to name their Presidential candidate before February next year,” a source said.

The time frame for naming the Opposition’s Presidential flag bearer has been a thorn in the flesh among the Opposition parties, with leaders such as Kalonzo and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi reiterating that they needed to name their pick early to avoid confusion in the Opposition.

Muturi, who has publicly endorsed Kalonzo as his favourite Presidential candidate, has warned that prolonged uncertainty over who would be their flag bearer could weaken the coalition’s preparations and undermine its momentum and that it is imperative that they have their candidate.

Gachagua of his party has stressed that there was no hurry to name the Opposition’s candidate, reviving the 2002 general election, when the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) declared the third President, the late Mwai Kibaki, as the coalition’s Presidential candidate.

One of the key issues in the Gachagua-Kalonzo meeting was a strategy to vet the briefcase political parties that continue to be formed and being rebranded to join the Opposition with leaders maintaining the need to be cautious about them as they may infiltrate and divide the Opposition from within for the benefit of their political rivals.

"There were general concerns that there are small parties that are sprouting and wanting to associate themselves with the Opposition even when they lack structures and their source of money they are using to conduct political rallies remains a mystery,” another source said.

DCP Secretary General Designate John Methu disclosed that the two parties agreed to look for real one-term political parties, claiming that some leaders were proclaiming to be one-term believers but were not, and might be moles who are out to divide them from within.

"The two leaders agreed to look for like-minded partners who are real one-term team believers. We are looking for real one-term parties so that we shall work and walk together; anybody who believes that William Ruto should go home can never think that if it is not them then it is Ruto. What we are saying is anybody else but not Ruto,” said Methu.

Kitui Senator Enock Wambua said Kalonzo and Gachagua committed to bring together their political bases and other political formations to actualise their Wantam (one-term) agenda against President Ruto.

Wambua said that Kalonzo and Gachagua will be holding several meetings to review the performance of the opposition before the next general election and that Gachagua has also promised Kalonzo at his Tseikuru home to galvanise their unity.

"We have had cordial discussions and talks about the future of this country. Our two leaders have committed themselves to work together and bring their political bases and other political formations together to make sure the Kenyan dream of one term for Ruto becomes a reality in August next year,” said Wambua.

Gachagua challenged his Opposition counterparts to publicly commit to supporting whoever is chosen as the coalition’s flagbearer, warning that supporters threatening to back Ruto if their preferred candidate misses the ticket could weaken efforts to unite against the head of state.

He said such statements undermined efforts to build a united opposition capable of challenging Ruto in the 2027 General Election, calling on leaders seeking the opposition presidential ticket to give clear directions to their supporters and publicly promise to support whoever is eventually agreed upon as the coalition’s flagbearer.

Following his meeting with Kalonzo, Gachagua said the talks centred on ‘the liberation of the country and the formation of the 6th administration ', describing his Wamunyoro residence as an integral part of efforts to restore the country, signalling his continued role in consultation among opposition leaders.

“We in the opposition are all in agreement that we shall make whatever sacrifices necessary to settle on one presidential candidate to be the captain of our struggle; that is why we are always in consultations as we review our progress towards achieving this important goal to liberate the country from bad leadership,” said Gachagua.

Gachagua, during his first meeting after jetting back to the country from the USA, welcomed Linda Mwananchi Movement Leader Edwin Sifuna and members of his entourage to his residence, where they agreed to hold joint rallies together to amplify their opposition to Ruto’s administration.

Moments after Kalonzo’s meeting, DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and a section of the Luhya Council of Elders visited Wamunyoro armed with a bull as a sign of good gesture and political goodwill.

Gachagua is expected to later visit Former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his Ichaweri residence to brief him on the political deliberations he has held with his Opposition counterparts in readiness for the next general election.

[e-mail]