NAIROBI, Kenya- Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has emerged as the early frontrunner in the WANTAM Advisory Committee’s online presidential vote, while former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is leading the running mate category as the opposition-backed initiative seeks to identify a unified ticket for the 2027 General Election.
According to provisional results published on the WANTAM online voting platform on Sunday, Sifuna garnered 58 per cent of the presidential vote, ahead of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who secured 34.01 per cent.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga followed with 8.84 per cent, while former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua received 4.08 per cent. Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi polled 3.74 per cent.
In the race for the preferred running mate, Matiang’i led the field with 31 per cent, narrowly ahead of Sifuna at 29 per cent. Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro followed with 14 per cent, while Kalonzo registered 8 per cent.
The online exercise forms part of the WANTAM movement’s initiative to identify a single opposition presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election through a public digital ballot.
Organisers said the voting platform was opened to the public after successfully resisting more than 4,000 attempted cyberattacks ahead of the exercise, allowing Kenyans to participate in the candidate selection process online.
WANTAM convenor Francis Masinde said the initiative aims to shift the process of selecting an opposition presidential flag bearer from closed-door negotiations among political elites to a broader public-driven exercise.
“The process of selecting the opposition flag bearer is too important to be left to politicians alone,” Masinde said during the launch of the platform.
He added that the movement is independently funded and has engaged opposition leaders to assure them that the exercise is impartial and is not designed to promote any individual candidate.
According to the organisers, the online vote is only the first stage of the process. The leading contenders will later participate in a public debate before a final round of voting is conducted to determine the opposition’s preferred presidential ticket.
The initiative comes amid increased political activity within opposition ranks as leaders seek to build a united front ahead of the 2027 elections, with calls growing for consensus around a single presidential candidate to avoid a split opposition vote.
