Thursday, February 19, 2026 - Jubilee Party deputy leader and 2027 presidential hopeful, Fred Matiang’i, has issued fresh demands to the United Opposition coalition on selecting its presidential candidate.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, February 18th,
after receiving endorsement from the Party of National Unity (PNU), Matiang’i
stressed that alliance building must involve all stakeholders, including the
public.
He warned that he will not accept any decision made without
broad participation.
“From where I sit, it ought to be an inclusive process,
because in alliance building, process is as important as the outcome itself.”
“If you have five candidates, four will walk away without
the flagbearer position.”
“They must have credible conviction to tell their supporters
that we went through this process and settled on X or Y candidate,” Matiang’i
said.
He added: “If our interests are unity, then there is no
substitute for inclusion, including the public. The people of Kenya should be
part of the process.”
His remarks come amid heightened competition within the
opposition, with principals lobbying for endorsement to face President William
Ruto in 2027.
The coalition has pledged to field a single candidate,
warning that disunity will hand Ruto an easy victory.
The opposition had earlier announced plans to unveil its
candidate in April 2026, though some leaders now prefer an early 2027
announcement.
As campaigns intensify, principals have been traversing the
country declaring their ambitions, raising questions about unity.
Despite internal realignments, the coalition insists it
remains intact.
Matiang’i and Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, are seen as
frontrunners, with one expected to clinch the ticket.
Other key figures in the alliance include Rigathi Gachagua,
Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Justin Muturi.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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