The battle for the 2027 presidency is gathering pace, with opposition leaders stepping up efforts to build a united front against President William Ruto as the country moves closer to the election year.

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Thursday hosted the Linda Mwananchi team, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, at the SKM Command Centre in Karen, Nairobi, in the latest public display of opposition solidarity.

The meeting came amid intensified consultations between leaders seeking to challenge Ruto’s re-election bid, even as several of them continue to harbour separate presidential ambitions.

Sifuna and members of his team recently held talks with Jubilee Party presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i as the opposition explores possible alliances and a common strategy for the August 2027 General Election.

Speaking after Thursday’s meeting, Kalonzo dismissed speculation that he was considering working with Ruto following the circulation of an old video showing the two leaders together.

“All of us who love this country so dearly, who have sacrificed so much that this country can be a true democracy, not a dictatorship, not a kleptocracy not a gangster regime. I want to tell Mr. William Ruto, please stop. Stop imagining that one Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka can ever join you. We'll meet at the ballot. We will have that conversation at the ballot on the 10th of August next year God willing,” the Wiper party leader said.

Wiper said the footage being circulated online was recorded in 2023 during the handover of the National Dialogue Committee report and did not show a recent meeting between Kalonzo and the President.

“The video that has been circulating is on old clip that was taken on march 4th 2024 when Kalonzo as a co-chair of the NADCO team no such meeting has happened there are no discussion whatsoever about them working together,” said Kitui Senator and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Enock Wambua.

Kalonzo claimed that intermediaries had been sent to persuade opposition leaders to engage the government, warning that secret negotiations could undermine efforts to present a united challenge in 2027.

Despite acknowledging that Sifuna and other opposition figures may seek the presidency, Kalonzo said the leaders had no option but to eventually unite behind one candidate.

The opposition has also increasingly invoked what it calls the “Ol Kalou Formula”, referring to the recent parliamentary by-election in which voters backed an opposition candidate despite government development campaigns and a strong mobilisation by the ruling party.

“Our people want to see us together they want to see one team united as people who don’t want to see president Ruto get a second term and that we must preach the unity of the opposition and try to build consensus of what they view is important to the people of Kenya,” said Sifuna.

While the President is seeking to centre the national conversation on development, his opponents are increasingly framing the 2027 election as a referendum on his first term in office.

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