Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has challenged opposition leaders seeking to dislodge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election to overcome their political differences and rally behind a common agenda, warning that personal ambitions could undermine their quest for political unity.
In a pointed message to the emerging opposition alliance, Kenyatta reminded the leaders that the presidency is a single seat that cannot accommodate competing ambitions, urging them to put the country’s interests ahead of individual political calculations.
Kenyatta delivered the message on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, during a memorial service for his cousin, the late Beatrice Wambui Muturi, held at PCEA Nairobi West Church in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
The gathering brought together several prominent opposition figures, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa.
The former Head of State used the occasion to address the growing expectations among Kenyans that opposition politicians should establish a cohesive political formation capable of providing an alternative direction ahead of the 2027 polls.
Addressing the leaders, Kenyatta observed that political competition among individuals seeking the country’s top office should not be allowed to overshadow the broader objective of building a united political front.
“As I keep telling my brothers here, Steve, Rigathi, Eugene and others, you know the seat can only be occupied by one person at a time,” he said.
He added that his interactions with ordinary Kenyans had convinced him that unity among opposition leaders was increasingly becoming a public expectation.
Kenyatta challenged the politicians to listen to the concerns of citizens and demonstrate that their political cooperation was driven by a shared national agenda rather than individual interests.
He maintained that the country needed leaders capable of looking beyond past disagreements and concentrating on the future.
“What happened in the past is in the past. What should concern Kenyans is where we are going,” he said.
The former President, however, cautioned that political unity should not be pursued at the expense of justice, arguing that lasting national stability could not be achieved without fairness.
“There can be no peace without justice,” he added.
Gachagua and Uhuru rekindle political ties
Kenyatta’s appeal came against the backdrop of renewed political relations between him and Gachagua, whose relationship had previously deteriorated following the 2022 General Election.
The two leaders shared a light-hearted exchange during the memorial service, with Gachagua openly acknowledging the political and personal connections that had linked him to the Kenyatta family over the years.
Recalling his relationship with the late Wambui, Gachagua described her as an influential figure who had supported his entrepreneurial journey and helped him acquire some of the properties he owns.
He specifically mentioned his Karen residence, saying the deceased had played a significant role in his business undertakings.
The DCP leader also revisited his involvement in Kenyatta’s presidential campaigns, recalling how they had worked together during the former President’s first attempt to ascend to power.
Gachagua claimed that their relationship had subsequently been affected by individuals who sought to create divisions between them.
He, however, declared that such interference would no longer succeed.
“Nobody will ever succeed in coming between me and former President Uhuru Kenyatta again,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President also made a surprising admission concerning the 2017 presidential election, revealing that he had spent KSh1.5 million given to him by Wambui to support Kenyatta’s re-election campaign.
According to Gachagua, Wambui had approached him with the money following the Supreme Court’s annulment of the August 2017 presidential election results and asked him to help mobilise resources for the repeat election.
He confessed that he had diverted the money to address his personal financial needs.
Kenyatta responded humorously, threatening to visit Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence to recover the money despite having retired from active political office.
The exchange illustrated the renewed cordiality between the two politicians, whose political relationship had been strained during the final months of the Jubilee administration.
The difficult search for a joint opposition candidate
Beyond the personal exchanges, Kenyatta’s remarks exposed one of the most significant challenges confronting the opposition as political parties position themselves for the 2027 presidential contest.
Although several opposition leaders have expressed interest in working together, the question of who should carry their presidential ticket remains a potentially contentious issue.
Among the prominent figures associated with the emerging opposition arrangement are Gachagua, Kalonzo, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua, Wamalwa and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Their political formations bring together leaders with different regional support bases, political histories and ambitions.
The challenge is therefore not simply bringing the parties together but establishing an acceptable mechanism for selecting a presidential candidate while ensuring that those who fail to secure the ticket remain committed to the coalition.
The disagreements have already surfaced publicly, particularly over the relationship between Gachagua and Matiang’i and the process through which the opposition should identify its flagbearer.
On November 7, Gachagua, Kalonzo and Matiang’i held a meeting in Nairobi aimed at addressing tensions that had threatened to complicate the opposition’s unity efforts.
The discussions came amid concerns that public disagreements among the principals could undermine negotiations for a common presidential candidate.
Kalonzo has been among the leaders advocating for continued consultations, with the opposition facing the delicate task of reconciling competing interests before the election campaign gathers momentum. The Standard+1
Kenyatta’s latest intervention therefore places renewed emphasis on the need for political compromise, particularly among leaders who have indicated their willingness to challenge the incumbent administration.
Uhuru’s emerging role in opposition politics
Although Kenyatta is no longer President, his latest remarks underline his continued involvement in national political conversations.
His influence is particularly significant because of his historical relationships with several of the opposition principals and his experience in managing political coalitions.
During his presidency, Kenyatta worked with different political formations before entering into the 2018 political truce with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The handshake between the two leaders significantly altered Kenya’s political landscape, bringing together former rivals and eventually contributing to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
The political arrangement also reshaped the Jubilee administration, with several political figures from the former opposition joining the government-backed political agenda.
However, the BBI initiative encountered constitutional and political challenges, eventually being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2022.
Kenyatta’s political influence also featured prominently in the 2022 presidential contest when he supported Raila’s presidential bid against his then Deputy President, William Ruto.
The election exposed divisions within the ruling Jubilee coalition, particularly in the Mount Kenya region, where Ruto secured substantial support despite Kenyatta’s backing of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Ruto eventually defeated Raila in the closely contested election, marking a significant political transition and ending Kenyatta’s decade-long presidency.
The relationship between Kenyatta and Ruto has since remained politically strained, with the former President occasionally finding himself at the centre of accusations by government allies over alleged involvement in opposition activities.
Kenyatta has previously dismissed such attacks, maintaining that retirement from the presidency does not take away his right to participate in national discussions.
His potential role in helping opposition leaders resolve their differences has also attracted attention.
In October, Gachagua indicated that the opposition principals could approach Kenyatta for guidance should their negotiations over a joint presidential candidate reach a deadlock.
Gachagua described the former President’s possible contribution as that of an elder who could help the competing political camps find common ground rather than someone expected to finance or run their political activities. The Star
Kalonzo calls for national unity
Kalonzo, who also attended the memorial service, defended Kenyatta’s continued participation in national political discourse, arguing that leaving public office did not mean surrendering the right to express opinions about the country’s future.
The Wiper leader said the former President was entitled to contribute to conversations shaping Kenya’s political direction.
Kalonzo also called for collective efforts to address the country’s challenges, declaring that the time had come for Kenyans to work towards rescuing the nation.
He further defended young people’s constitutional right to participate in political discussions and peacefully express dissatisfaction with government policies.
Taking issue with controversial remarks advocating shooting protesters in the legs, Kalonzo said young Kenyans should be allowed to express their political opinions without intimidation.
He argued that the ballot offered citizens an opportunity to communicate their position on the country’s leadership.
His remarks brought the question of youth participation into the broader discussion about the opposition’s political agenda, particularly following the emergence of Gen Z-led protests as an important feature of Kenya’s political landscape.
The political test ahead of 2027
For the opposition, Kenyatta’s message comes at a time when political negotiations are increasingly being shaped by the need to agree on both a common presidential candidate and a framework for sharing political responsibilities.
The leaders must navigate questions surrounding coalition leadership, the distribution of political positions, regional interests and the method of choosing their flagbearer.
There are also competing views over whether the candidate should be identified through negotiations among party principals or a more formal process involving opinion polling.
Some opposition figures have argued that the process should be concluded early enough to give the coalition sufficient time to organise its campaign, while others have cautioned against rushing into an announcement before internal disagreements are resolved.
The opposition’s difficulties are compounded by the fact that some of its leading figures have previously competed against one another for political positions and command separate political constituencies.
Consequently, an agreement among party leaders will need to translate into cooperation among their respective supporters, grassroots structures and political allies.
For President Ruto’s administration, the emergence of a coordinated opposition presents a significant political development as the country approaches another general election.
However, whether the opposition can transform its unity declarations into a functioning political alliance remains dependent on its ability to settle internal disputes and agree on a common programme.
Kenyatta’s intervention offered a reminder that political alliances cannot be sustained by public declarations alone.
His message to Gachagua, Kalonzo, Wamalwa and their colleagues was that competing ambitions must be reconciled if they are to respond to the public demand for a united political alternative.
The central question now is whether the opposition principals can translate their renewed engagements into a concrete agreement on leadership, policy priorities and a common presidential ticket before the 2027 electoral contest.
For now, Kenyatta has made his position clear: the presidency is one seat, and opposition leaders must find a way of agreeing on who should occupy it.
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