The race for a joint opposition presidential candidate has come under renewed pressure, with Kirinyaga leaders Wangui Ngirici and Ndegwa Njiru telling opposition parties to stop prolonged negotiations and unite around one person to face President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
The two leaders said on Monday, September 7, 2026, that continued divisions within the United Alternative opposition coalition could work in favour of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
They said opposition parties should settle their differences, agree on a candidate with the ability to mount a strong challenge and then organise a common campaign ahead of the polls.
Ngirici said the Mt Kenya region should also rethink the political choice it made in the 2022 election, when it largely supported the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
“The people of Mt Kenya must correct the mistake we made in 2022. We gave Kenya Kwanza overwhelming support, and now we must make a different decision in the next election,” Ngirici said.
She said opposition leaders should stop putting their individual political interests first and instead concentrate on offering Kenyans another choice in the coming election.
Ngirici said the public was waiting for the opposition to provide a clear alternative and could not afford to wait indefinitely as the parties negotiate over who should lead them.
“We cannot continue with endless negotiations while the country is waiting for a credible alternative. The opposition must agree on one presidential candidate and commit to supporting and campaigning for that person,” she said.
She further asked voters in Mt Kenya to look closely at what political leaders promise before deciding who to support.
According to the former Woman Representative, voters should make their choices based on what they consider best for the country instead of automatically following established political groupings.
Njiru took a wider view of what he believes should form the opposition’s agenda, saying the coalition should not make the 2027 contest solely about removing Ruto from office.
He said there should also be action to address what he described as serious cases of human rights violations during the current administration.
“Removing Ruto from power is not enough. There must also be accountability for the crimes of murder and abductions that have occurred during his watch,” Njiru said.
The lawyer urged opposition parties to develop a shared programme and present voters with a clear choice centred on human rights, the rule of law and respect for the Constitution.
“The opposition must stop playing politics among themselves and start preparing to take responsibility for the country.
“Kenyans need a government that respects human rights, the rule of law and the Constitution,” he said.
The latest calls come at a time when political activity is picking up ahead of the 2027 General Election, with opposition parties seeking to bring their supporters together and agree on the best strategy for challenging the Kenya Kwanza administration.
For Ngirici and Njiru, the ability of the opposition to overcome its differences and settle on one presidential candidate will show whether it is prepared to mount a united campaign against Ruto.
They said a coordinated effort would give voters a clearer alternative, while failure to resolve the differences could leave the opposition facing the election as separate political forces.