NAIROBI, Kenya — Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said he would support Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for the presidency if opposition leaders agree to make him their joint candidate in the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo, a former Vice President, said he would also be willing to support other opposition leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, if they collectively agree on a candidate capable of defeating President William Ruto.
Speaking during a local media interview on Monday, August 10, 2026, Kalonzo said his priority was to unite the opposition around a candidate who could challenge Ruto’s bid for a second term.
“I have no problem supporting Sifuna. Sifuna also has no problem supporting me. I have no problem supporting Gachagua,” Kalonzo said.
His remarks signal a willingness to put his own presidential ambitions aside if opposition parties and leaders settle on another candidate.
Kalonzo has previously indicated his intention to make another bid for the presidency, but his latest comments suggest he is open to a negotiated opposition arrangement if it strengthens the challenge against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Kalonzo open to Gachagua
Kalonzo also said he had no difficulty supporting Gachagua should opposition leaders agree to back the former Deputy President.
He pointed to their political relationship, recalling that Gachagua had shown solidarity with him during the Senate proceedings surrounding Gachagua’s own impeachment in 2024.
The remarks place Kalonzo among opposition figures signalling flexibility over the identity of the eventual presidential flagbearer as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.
For now, however, there is no agreement naming either Sifuna, Kalonzo or Gachagua as the opposition’s joint presidential candidate.
Sifuna builds national profile
Kalonzo’s comments come as Sifuna continues to expand his political activities beyond Nairobi through the Linda Mwananchi movement.
The Nairobi senator has toured different parts of the country as he seeks to build a broader national political profile and mobilise support around the opposition cause.
Sifuna’s allies have argued that the movement should aim for the presidency rather than settle for a secondary role in a coalition.
That position could eventually create difficult negotiations if several opposition leaders insist on contesting the top seat.
Kalonzo’s latest remarks, however, suggest that he is prepared to negotiate if opposition leaders can establish a formula for selecting a single candidate.
Opposition unity remains key
The opposition faces the familiar challenge of balancing individual presidential ambitions against the argument that a united ticket would provide the strongest challenge to Ruto.
Besides Kalonzo, Sifuna and Gachagua, former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has also emerged as a prominent potential contender within the opposition camp.
Each politician has a different political base, profile and coalition network, making the process of selecting a joint candidate potentially contentious.
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Kalonzo’s position is that the opposition’s immediate objective should be defeating Ruto rather than allowing individual ambitions to divide the vote.
The former Vice President has therefore signalled that he could support another leader if that person emerges through an agreed opposition process.
No opposition deal yet
Despite growing discussions about a possible coalition, opposition leaders have yet to announce a definitive presidential ticket for 2027.
The parties are still consolidating their respective support bases and assessing their negotiating positions ahead of formal coalition talks.
For Sifuna, Kalonzo’s endorsement of the possibility of supporting his presidential bid represents a significant political opening.
But it does not amount to a commitment by Kalonzo to serve as Sifuna’s running mate or to endorse him unconditionally.
The key question now is whether opposition leaders can translate their stated willingness to work together into an agreement on one presidential candidate before the 2027 election.
For Kalonzo, at least, the latest message is clear: he says he is willing to back Sifuna — provided the opposition agrees that Sifuna is the person best placed to lead the challenge against Ruto.
