Interview: Wamalwa dismisses opposition rift, says coalition united and focused on beating Ruto

DAP–K leader Eugene Wamalwa has downplayed growing public clashes within the united opposition, insisting the coalition remains intact despite recent tensions involving Governor George Natembeya and Cleophas Malala.

In an interview, Wamalwa said disagreements are normal but secondary to the broader mission of unseating President William Ruto in 2027.

The DAP-K leader said the exchanges, which have fuelled talk of factional tensions and competing ambitions, are normal in any broad political formation and should not be interpreted as a sign of internal infighting.

Instead, he argued, the opposition has demonstrated an unprecedented level of cooperation in the by-election arrangements and joint strategy sessions.

This, he said, is evidence that the leadership is aligned on the central objective of dislodging President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

He argued that the coalition’s unity is deeper than the “noise” generated by individual actors, adding that recent conflicts should be understood as part of the process of negotiating power, identity and representation in a still-evolving political movement.

While several opposition figures harbour presidential ambitions, he said, the coalition has already begun informal mechanisms to manage competition and maintain discipline.

Wamalwa emphasised that personal disagreements must not distract from what he termed the “bigger national mission” of rebuilding governance, restoring the economy and offering Kenyans a credible alternative to the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He spoke to the Star in a wide-ranging interview shared below.

THE STAR: We recently saw a clash between your deputy party leader Governor George Natembey and Rigathi Gachagua’s deputy Cleophas Malala. Is everything okay in the opposition?

Wamalwa: Yes, we are united, but like in any family, there are challenges here and there. The issue is not whether we have issues, but how we handle those issues, how we resolve them. And so far, we are doing well as a coalition, and we remain united.

Even those doubting our unity can see from these by-elections: We agreed in regards to Malava, where we had many candidates, which is a big boost for the opposition to show we can compromise for the sake of the bigger picture and agenda: achieving opposition unity to make William Ruto a one-term president.

We did the same in Mbeere North, where DCP, DP and ‘Mbus’ had candidates, but were able to agree on a scientific process of identifying the strongest candidate through polling.

[Newton] Karish emerged as the most popular, and we endorsed him. We are sure he is going to win.

We did the same for Magarini, where Wiper and DCP had candidates but opinion polls showed the DCP candidate was more popular, and so Wiper endorsed the DCP candidate.

In Kisa East, we had agreed it would be subjected to the same yardstick but we had not concluded the opinion polling to identify who was stronger. DCP had requested that since they had withdrawn in Malava, DAP-K withdraws in Kisa East. The matter is still being sorted out.

We have agreed the principals should speak to their deputies so that they calm down and let the focus remain on not fighting each other but fighting Kenya Kwanza and broad-based candidates, so that we win jointly as a team. But let us not wash our dirty linen in public.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, a deputy leader in your party, is openly campaigning for a UDA candidate. Are you planning disciplinary action against him?

Savula knows very well what our Constitution provides in terms of party discipline and loyalty. Even in the military, once you desert, you are treated as a deserter, and there are consequences. Likewise, that act of betrayal and disloyalty to the party will have consequences.

Of course he is conflicted. I listened to him during the ‘Fixing the Nation’ interview on NTV, saying he belongs both to the party which is in the opposition, and he also belongs to the county government executive of Kakamega because of the power-sharing between DAP-K and ODM. In the broader scheme, he said he had no choice but to go with his governor.

We respect his choice. If he chooses to leave DAP-K to join ODM, that is his democratic right. But I can tell him choices have consequences.

A few months ago, there were issues about control of the party. And now the clash between Natembeya and Malala. Do you feel Governor Natembeya is undermining you in the party? If yes, how will you resolve those leadership differences?

We are a democratic party. The first name of our party is ‘Democratic’. The second is ‘Action’. Democracy in action. We believe we are a democratic party with strong internal democracy and dispute-resolution mechanisms, which have been put to the test in the last few months.

So far, I can say I am happy and confident that internal democracy will prevail. The internal dispute-resolution mechanisms established by our constitution will tackle any issues that arise, internally or otherwise.

For Governor Natembeya, we had an agreement with him that he will serve Trans Nzoia for 10 years to recover the 10 devolution years we have lost under Ford Kenya, and it still holds. He has never told me he is going to abandon the governorship. But even if he is interested in a different office, I would say it is his democratic right. And I do not fault him in any way.

There is talk that Natembeya could deputise Kalonzo, yet he is not a principal in the United Opposition. How do you take such suggestions?

I’ve told you what my agreement is with Governor Natembeya. If he chooses to go another way, I expect he will be honourable enough to tell me.

The issues of being President, Deputy President or whatever other office — those are speculations I do not want to engage in. Let us wait to cross that bridge when we get there.

There is nothing wrong with a politician being ambitious. If you’re not ambitious, you have no business being a politician. So that is up to him and his conscience. I leave it to him.

What makes you believe you can beat Ruto?

Ruto said we have five men and one woman purporting to form a government. That’s what President Moi said when Narc was being formed. When my late brother Mike and Mwai Kibaki were meeting with [Charity] Ngilu at Serena, he asked what two men and one woman were doing in a hotel every day. He ridiculed them, not knowing they were forming the next government.

As much as Ruto is mocking us, he is actually advancing our agenda. We know what we are doing, and we are forming the next government.

We are the core team that started the journey, but it is growing. Many people are joining us —JB Muturi, Mithika Linturi [have joined] and many others will join us in coming months.

We might be six presidential candidates, but only one of us will be the sixth President.

We have agreed that we must stick together to the end. It is not optional, it is imperative.

Ultimately, we must also agree on a joint candidate. If we could agree in the Coast in Magarini, in Mbeere and in Western, surely we can agree on having one presidential candidate in 2027. That is our promise and pledge to the country.

 But we have seen disagreements among principals. What is the relationship among them?

I believe it was James Madison who said, ‘If men were angels, we wouldn’t need government.’ We are not angels. We are human beings coming from different backgrounds, parties, communities and regions. Ultimately, what binds us is the greater good for our nation, our country and our future.

We are not a praise-and-worship choir that must sing the same thing and dance the same way. We might differ on several issues, but that does not mean we part ways.

We are democrats. We have the resilience to take any shocks and bumps along the way without falling apart. And looking at the calibre of leadership in the opposition — leaders who can chew gum and climb stairs at the same time — we will manage. 

There are concerns about the character of some allies, such as Gachagua and Linturi, whom some Kenyans feel have questionable character. Don’t you think this affects public trust?

Some of the issues you’re raising have been raised before, and they have defended themselves.

Linturi also came out clearly and put his case before the President and his allies.

I do not wish to speak for them or defend them. But when we seek the highest office in the land, we must all be ready to be subjected to the highest standards of scrutiny. No one is spared from that because when we have a President who has been ranked as one of the most corrupt presidents globally, according to the global ranking last year, where he came second after [Bashar] Assad, formerly of Syria. And this year he was again ranked as one of the richest presidents in the world. It tells you that if you are the most corrupt president, you will be the richest president.

He had a record of many scandals as DP: Arror and Kimwarer, Kenya Pipeline, where he had grabbed land and was taken to court. Now he has ended up selling the entire Pipeline and the refinery as well. So what stops him from becoming the richest in a record three years with all that is going on?

That is why we must not make the mistake of dividing the opposition, like in 1992, when Matiba and Kibaki went for it and lost. Again in 1997, my late brother Kibaki, Ngilu, Raila all went for it and were divided.

It is only in 2002 that Saitoti said there comes a time when the country is bigger than the individual. That is the path we must follow in 2027, to say the country is bigger than all of us, to sacrifice so that we give the best candidate.

If we unite behind that candidate, we will ensure Ruto is a one-term president. If we divide, we give him a second term by default. Kenyans will never forgive us, because this country may not survive another term of corruption, tribalism, failed policies in education, health, finance and heavy taxation.

We must liberate this nation from corruption, tribalism, heavy taxation and failed policies. This is a sacred mission for which we must all be ready to sacrifice. 

Reports indicate Gachagua is negotiating for a 50 per cent stake in return for his endorsement. Doesn’t that perpetuate ‘shareholding politics’ and affect the perception of the United Opposition?

I must say Hon Gachagua addressed that issue and said at no time has he demanded 50 per cent of the next government. At no time has he demanded to be President or Deputy President. He remains open to whatever outcomes follow our negotiations.

Secondly, we have never sat to agree on any line-up. So any line-up you see circulating is fake, and most of these are National Intelligence Service-generated.

They want to shape the thinking of Kenyans and poison the air against the opposition, because no one would want a country owned exclusively by a few “shareholders”. Every Kenyan is a shareholder in this country.

They know such propaganda causes negative reaction. So I dismiss those fake line-ups.

At no time have I ever said I want to be Speaker. I was given that ‘speakership’ role in a fake lineup. It is a lie.

Why do you think you are the candidate the opposition should settle on?

I want to be the sixth President of the Republic of Kenya. I was a key player in implementing this Constitution as the last Minister for Justice. In a country crying out for a leader who can put this nation back on the path of the rule of law and constitutionalism, no one is better qualified than I.

I have been in charge of devolution for all the 47 counties, and the longest-serving Minister for Devolution. In a country crying for inclusivity and equitable development, devolution holds the key to a more just, more equitable, more inclusive Kenya.

No one is better qualified than the last Minister for Devolution to ensure we do not weaken devolution the way this President has done. A Eugene Wamalwa presidency will defend and strengthen devolution.

Lastly, I have been Minister for Defence. In terms of national security, as the Commander-in-Chief, I will not need time to learn on the job.

I have dealt with al Shabaab, been to Kismayo — the most trying theatre of war where our biggest enemy remains. I have been to Mavivi, to Goma in eastern Congo, to understand the regional security threat posed by M23.

So when we talk about the next Commander-in-Chief, again, no one is better qualified.

I want to be the next President. But if, in the unlikely event, someone else is given that opportunity, I will be ready and willing to support that person.

For now, we are asking Kenyans not to speculate and to avoid these fake lists. There will be so many line-ups released to confuse Kenyans, many of them generated by the state to undermine the opposition.

We will officially release our line-up next year. For now, let Kenyans avoid speculation.

In the event that the United Opposition loses to the incumbent, is there a possibility of a post-election deal with the President as seen in previous years?

Not at all. I am one of the leaders who dissented at Bomas during the National Dialogue Committee process. I came to realise that this President was never genuine. He never cared about the suffering of Kenyans.

What took us to the streets was the high cost of living. There were issues of electoral justice, about opening the servers, because we know Raila Odinga won that election. He won in six of the eight former provinces.

That narrow 200,000-vote margin Ruto got, we know manipulation happened. The courts said it was not proven but many of us felt the real issues needed to be addressed.

At Bomas, what we were given was about positions: creating a Prime Minister position for Musalia Mudavadi, creating Leader of Opposition with two deputies, creating more women’s positions. It was all about positions and political expediency, not about the suffering of Kenyans or the high cost of living.

They refused to reduce or change any levy.

When it came to that, I refused to sign the report. I felt we did not address the most important issue — the cost of living.

I said at Bomas: What we have done here will come back to bite us. And it came back in 2024, when the Finance Bill caused our children to come out to the streets and get killed.

Had we done the right thing at Bomas, those 63 kids would never have been killed. They would never have had to fight for themselves. We should have fought for them at Bomas.

I warned that going into bed with Ruto would compromise everything we stood for. Some chose to do the handshake and join the broad-based government. I refused. I know what Ruto stands for.

Those who are with him now, especially after Baba has left, will live to regret it. It is only a matter of time before they leave that broad-based nonsense, and they will leave with egg on their face.