A united opposition led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DCP's Rigathi Gachagua has hit the ground running in a tit-for-tat response to President William Ruto’s perceived early campaign blitz.
The coalition—which includes Martha Karua (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), Justin Muturi (DP) and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i—has launched "rapid-fire" rallies across the country, seeking to counter Ruto’s aggressive grassroots mobilisation.
But the President, a seasoned tactician, is already in full campaign mode, replicating the energy and strategy that propelled him to power in 2022.
From development project launches to church fundraisers and impromptu market rallies, Ruto is effectively campaigning barely three years into office.
His events, often framed as government tours, are meticulously staged, combining fiery speeches, subtle digs at rivals and charm offensive to mend fences in vote-rich Mt Kenya after his fallout with Gachagua.
In Western, Coast and Nyanza, Ruto is strategically dangling his political partnership with ODM leader Raila Odinga to win more trust.
But the opposition too has refused
to cede ground to Ruto’s early advantage and are now hitting the campaign trail
holding rallies in areas previously dominated by the broad based titans as they
vow to dismantle what they describe as regime of empty promises.
“As the Mulembe nation, you have
been misused for far too long and being abandoned after they ride on your vote
to ascend to power,” Gachagua said on Thursday during Kakamega rally.
According to Matiang’i, the team is
only held familiarisation meetings, promising a bruising
campaigns when time is rife.
“The official campaign period has
not started. What we are doing now is building relations, institutions and
getting to understand each other and share ideas,” the former CS said during an interview
with Citizen TV on Tuesday night.
“When campaigns start, we will have
a proper schedule.”
The
team last month rolled first joint campaigns that saw them traverse Ukamabni
and Coastal counties.
This
week, they camped in Western, where they staged a whirlwind
campaign blitz, cutting across key counties traditionally considered
strongholds of Ruto and Raila.
The
team visited Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties.
The
move is seen as a deliberate effort to undercut Ruto’s Rift Valley grip
and Raila’s Western base, exploiting growing public
dissatisfaction, Gen Z activism and economic frustrations.
The
high-octane whistle-stop campaign is also part of the group’s broader strategy
to expand their political base ahead of the high-stakes 2027 polls.
The
opposition’s tit-for-tat strategy appears calculated and symbolic with the
team countering regions where the President has recently campaigned in.
Addressing
a charged rally in Kakamega on Tuesday, Gachagua accused Kenya Kwanza
administration of conning the region and failing to honor pre-campaign pledges
that ring-fenced 30 nper cent power share to the area.
The
former Ruto’s principal assistant said the current administration
reneged on the 1,000 km of tarmac road to Mulembe nation.
During Coast and Ukambani tours last month, 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.
“Even
if they stuff IEBC with their puppets, we will beat them at every polling
station. Our agents will relay real-time results. No tricks. No games,” Kalonzo
said. “Time
is up for this administration.”
Ruto’s allies, meanwhile, have
dismissed the tour as political theatrics that will not translate into votes.
Sirisia MP John Waluke said the
opposition team is weak and only trying to brave face to dupe Kenyans.
The Western Kenya MPs caucus chairperson said the exit of Raila from the opposition fold has
left a shell that cannot stage any significant challenge to Ruto’s re-election.
“Ever since Raila joined
broad-based government, the opposition wing has remained weak,” Waluke said.
Speaking in Tiata Taveta county on
Thusrday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki cautioned Kenyans against falling
into the trap of tribal divisions.
“Do not be misled into entertaining
tribal divisions because it is harmful to our efforts to unite the nation,” he
said.