Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has sounded a strong warning to opposition leaders, urging them to stay united amid what he termed as “deliberate and discreet” plans by rival forces to divide their front ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 29, Mwangangi cautioned that enemies of the opposition are likely to sponsor multiple presidential candidates in a bid to dilute their collective strength and increase President William Ruto’s re-election chances.
“The pressure from Kenyans will ensure the opposition stays united,” he asserted, warning that any leader who abandons the unity pact would face public backlash. “Any opposition leader who chooses to run away from unity will face the wrath of Kenyans.”
Mwangangi stressed that political egos must be set aside, urging key opposition figures to put the nation’s interest above personal ambitions. “They will have no choice other than to remain united,” he added.
His remarks come in the wake of a crucial strategy meeting held in Nairobi on April 29, where top opposition leaders including former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), and former Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi—met to chart a path toward a unified presidential campaign.
The Nairobi meeting was notable as it marked Matiang’i’s first public engagement with Gachagua’s camp, signaling a potential alignment and ending speculation about his political direction following his return from a prolonged stay in the United States.
Sources close to the opposition camp indicate that this high-stakes meeting is part of a broader series of engagements aimed at building a formidable alliance to challenge President Ruto’s leadership in 2027.
Also present were former Cabinet Secretaries Mithika Linturi and Justin Muturi, further underlining the diverse support the opposition is trying to consolidate.
As the political landscape begins to heat up, Mwangangi’s warnings underscore the critical importance of unity in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested race for the presidency in 2027.
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