NAIROBI, Kenya — Activist-turned-politician Boniface Mwangi has signalled readiness to join forces with other opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that a divided opposition would hand President William Ruto an easy path to a second term.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Sunday, Mwangi said he plans to seek the presidential nomination of his Ukweli Party, which he founded at the age of 34, but stressed that the 2027 contest must rise above individual ambitions.
“This election is bigger than me and bigger than any party,” Mwangi said, arguing that Kenya needs a collective political strategy to counter what he described as President Ruto’s growing consolidation of power.
Mwangi, who announced his intention to run for president in August 2025, said he remains open to coalition talks with like-minded opposition figures, citing the 2002 National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) victory as a blueprint for change.
“We need a NARC moment,” he said, referring to the alliance that ended KANU’s decades-long rule and ushered in President Mwai Kibaki. “But this time, the flag bearer — whether it is me or someone else — must have a clean record and not be a thief.”
The former activist said opposition leaders should be willing to campaign collectively, even if only one candidate ultimately makes it to the ballot, drawing lessons from past elections such as Raila Odinga’s 2007 bid, which featured a coalition of opposition heavyweights.
“I am not running because I think I alone can fix this country,” Mwangi said. “We can learn from 2007, when there was a pentagon. Maybe one of us will be on the ballot, but collectively we must run together.”
Mwangi warned that failure to unite would fracture the opposition vote and strengthen President Ruto’s re-election chances.
“If we divide our votes, the man will get back into power,” he said. “Kenyans must demand unity. Either we work together, or we all perish politically.”
With the 2027 race already taking shape, Mwangi’s remarks add to growing calls within opposition circles for early coalition talks aimed at presenting a single challenger to President Ruto.
