Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina have intensified calls for Kenya’s opposition to unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The message was delivered during the burial of Mwalimu Jackson Karua, the father of veteran opposition politician and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, at Kathande in Gichugu Constituency. The gathering brought together several senior opposition figures, turning the funeral into a major political forum as leaders weighed the prospects of forming a united front against President William Ruto in 2027.
Among those present were Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary and Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Martha Karua.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is currently in the United States, was represented by Nyandarua Senator John Methu.
Njeri Maina challenges opposition leaders
The political temperature rose after Uhuru invited Njeri Maina to address the gathering. Maina used the opportunity to challenge opposition leaders to put aside their differences and agree on a single presidential candidate, warning that splitting the opposition vote would hand Ruto an advantage.
"Let us stop these minor squabbles; the enemy is one, and his name is Ruto," Maina declared, adding "Give us one presidential candidate to face Kasongo, and whoever steps out of line, we will know that person is a traitor."
Her remarks placed the spotlight on the opposition figures who have expressed interest in the 2027 presidential race, including Karua, Matiang’i, Musyoka, Sifuna and Gachagua.
The call for unity comes as opposition parties and political formations continue grappling with the question of who should lead a possible coalition against Ruto.
Uhuru says he is not seeking office
Kenyatta, who served as Kenya’s president between 2013 and 2022, sought to position himself as an elder statesman rather than an active contender for political office.
He dismissed attacks directed at him by political opponents, saying his focus was on Kenya’s future rather than securing another elective position.
"I am not seeking any elective seat; I am content with what I accomplished. Even if they hurl insults at me, call me a sponsor, a rebel leader, or a drunkard, I just look at them and laugh because they are wasting their time. I only want Kenya to move forward as one," Kenyatta said.
The former president then turned his attention to the bereaved family, offering condolences to Martha Karua following the loss of her father. "I offer my condolences to the family of Martha Karua. Losing a father is not an easy thing. May he rest in peace until we meet again," he said.
Martha Karua warns male contenders
Martha Karua later used the gathering to make it clear that she should not be discounted in discussions about the opposition’s presidential candidate.
Addressing the political leaders present, Karua challenged male politicians seeking the presidency to recognise that women remain serious contenders in the race. "I am reminding these men not to think they are the only ones on the track running for the presidency. They should know that in this national kitchen, the mother is the one who knows how to run the stove," Karua stated.
Her remarks added another dimension to the opposition succession debate, with several prominent politicians already positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
Sifuna presses opposition leaders
Sifuna also used the occasion to push opposition leaders to settle their differences and determine who should lead their coalition into the election.
"Here in Kirinyaga, you know who is fit to be the candidate for the presidency and deputy. Riggy G, Kalonzo, and Matiang’i are here. Can we not settle this matter today? How do you see me? If I am given the flag, will Kasongo go home or not?" Sifuna asked.
The Nairobi senator then launched a broader attack on the Ruto administration, particularly over government spending and major contracts.
"Ruto got upset recently because I told him this country is not his personal estate; it is not his private property. When he enters into those contracts worth trillions of shillings, he has a responsibility to tell us what he is doing," Sifuna said.
He accused the presidency of failing to live up to its role as a unifying institution. "The presidency is supposed to be a symbol of our national unity, but Ruto has become a symbol of our collective embarrassment and shame," he added.
Sifuna invokes Raila
Sifuna concluded by invoking the legacy of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, using the occasion to criticise the government's political rhetoric.
"Because this is the remembrance month for Baba, there was someone who used to insult Raila and call him a witch doctor, an uprooter of railways, and other things. Now he is insulting his children because he knows his days are coming to an end. There is no vote for Kasongo anywhere," Sifuna said.
The gathering highlighted the central challenge facing Kenya's opposition ahead of 2027: bringing together politicians with presidential ambitions under one political vehicle while preventing internal competition from splitting their support.
With several senior figures already positioning themselves for the race, the push for a single opposition candidate is likely to remain one of the most consequential political debates ahead of the election.