The opposition on Thursday stormed Western Kenya with a
blunt message for voters: you were conned.
In fiery rallies across Vihiga and Kakamega counties,
opposition leaders accused President William Ruto of using the region to rise
to power, only to abandon it once in office.
Led by DCP Party boss Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper’s Kalonzo
Musyoka, and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, the opposition accused the President of
political deception and false pledges.
At the centre of focus was the much-publicised promise of a
30 per cent share in government and the tarmacking of 1,000km of roads.
“You have been misused for too long,” said Gachagua,
addressing a charged crowd.
During the 2022 campaigns, President Ruto entered into a
formal agreement with Wetang’ula and Mudavadi, pledging significant development
in exchange for the region’s support.
But opposition leaders now say those promises remain
unfulfilled.
The political whirlwind tour, which cut across Luanda,
Mbale, Malava, Kakamega, and Mumias, featured a cast of seasoned and emerging
leaders.
These include former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred
Matiang’i, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, former National Assembly
Speaker Justin Muturi, former Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi, and DCP deputy
party leader Cleophas Malala.
Noticeably absent was People’s Liberation Party boss Martha
Karua, who was appearing in court in connection with ongoing abduction cases.
Gachagua urged the Luhya community to rally behind a new
generation of leaders from the region—Wamalwa, Natembeya, Kituyi and Malala—and
to reject political "brokers" whom he accused of trading away the
region’s votes.
“Give these leaders the power to negotiate on your behalf,”
Gachagua implored. “Don’t go through brokers who end up selling your votes.”
Kalonzo echoed the betrayal narrative and reiterated the
opposition’s push to limit Ruto to a single term, citing a worsening cost of
living and growing national discontent.
“This government has made the lives of Kenyans miserable,”
Kalonzo said. “That is why we insist it deserves only one term.”
The rallies marked the opposition's strategic return to a
region seen as a potential battleground in the 2027 elections—one that could
tilt the scales depending on which coalition successfully taps into local’s
frustrations over unmet expectations.
As the opposition continues to paint Ruto’s administration
as one built on broken promises, the battle for Western Kenya is shaping up to
be both symbolic and fiercely contested.
Matiang’i who was joining the opposition for a first joint
rally, said their coming together is meant to save the country which he noted
is on a wrong trajectory.
The former powerful minister maintained the opposition will
not disintegrate but will hold together until their mission is achieved.
He also urged the youths to register as voters and use their
vote to effect the changes in the coming elections.
“We need to fix education, farming and the entire governance
of this country, that is why we must join hands to save our country. We will
work together to ensure we save the country,” Matiang’i said.
“As leaders from the region, we shall unite with a sole
reason to make Ruto a one-term president,” added Malala.
Natembeya said the region will play a significant in
dislodging Ruto from power in 2027.
The firebrand county boss insisted the region will never
again allow an ‘outsider’ to dictate the direction of the region’s politics.
“We are the second populous community in Kenya and it should
go without saying that we are second in everything,” Natembeya said.
Wamalwa described the new opposition alliance as the
solution to the country’s myriad problems including restoring the dignity of
the payslips.
The opposition brigade are in Western for two-days as they
plot complete takeover of President Ruto
and Raila’s strongholds as they expand their bases ahead of 2027 polls.
Raila’s recent move to sign a cooperation agreement with
Ruto has triggered a political shake-up, with the opposition now eyeing a
significant share of the coastal vote.
Gachagua and Kalonzo are banking on solid support from
Western Kenya to strengthen their coalition and mount a serious challenge to
make Ruto a one-term president.
On Friday, the opposition brigade will be in Busia and
Bungoma counties to popularise their new unity and charm the region that has
been traditionally voting anti-government candidates.
The team will take a break on Saturday from the campaign trail
and join Gachagua in Nyeri county for the burial of his aunt Gladys Kahua who
passed on last week.
This is the second time the united opposition is staging a
joint charm offensive following last month’s one in Ukambani and Coast regions.
During the Coast and Ukambani tours, the opposition leaders
sustained their push to unseat Ruto in the next poll.
The leaders pledged to unite behind a single presidential
candidate in 2027 to take on President Ruto, promising a well-organised
campaign with trained agents at every polling station to counter alleged
election rigging.
INSTANT A NALYSIS
Opposition has united with the sole aim of unseating
President William Ruto in the coming 2027 elections and rendering him one-term
President. The united opposition has of late embarked on the countrywide tours
to popularise their new unity and endear themselves to Kenyans. The group is
however faced with the main task of keeping intact and approaching the next
elections as a team without disintegration that normally comes with the
deciding on the flag bearer.
