NAIROBI, Kenya- Homa Bay Governor and ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga has warned that opposition leaders risk losing valuable campaign time if they delay choosing a joint presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
The warning was highlighted in a video shared by The Standard on Sunday, November 1.
Wanga’s central message was that a candidate chosen too late would have little time to build national recognition and campaign networks while Ruto is already engaging voters across the country.
In an interview aired in October, Wanga said the opposition would struggle to catch up with the President’s nationwide political activity if it waited until early 2027 to settle on a flagbearer.
“By the time these guys get a candidate and go with this candidate to the places the president is, you know, the president is working very hard. He is putting in work,” she said.
Wanga also argued that the late Raila Odinga’s established political brand and national networks had helped the opposition in previous elections.
She said the current crop of opposition leaders did not have the same level of recognition, meaning a candidate would need time to introduce themselves to voters across the country.
Opposition divided over timing
Her remarks come as opposition leaders continue consultations on a joint ticket, with competing views over when to name their candidate.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s camp has pushed for an earlier decision, while DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and his allies have argued for more time to complete consultations and avoid giving the government an opportunity to exploit divisions.
The debate has intensified following recent meetings between Kalonzo, Gachagua and other opposition figures, who have publicly committed to working towards a single candidate.
The opposition’s challenge is to balance the need for unity and an agreed selection process with enough time for the eventual flagbearer to build support nationally.
Wanga has previously described the task of defeating the broad-based political alliance in 2027 as a “very tall order” if the opposition does not organise early.
Her warning adds to the pressure on opposition principals to resolve their leadership question as political activity gathers pace ahead of the election.
