NAIROBI, Kenya – PLP Leader Martha Karua said opposition parties are continuing discussions on how to select a single presidential flag bearer to challenge President William Ruto, with the methodology expected to be made public once an agreement is reached.
Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Karua said opposition leaders had already begun working on the framework for identifying their joint candidate.
She, however, declined to disclose details of the proposed mechanism, saying further consultations were still ongoing.
“We have, and I’m not going to speak about it because we did not include it in the statement. We will have further meetings, and our teams are working,” Karua said.
The former Justice Minister said Kenyans would be informed about the process once opposition leaders conclude their discussions.
Karua says voters must have a say
The PLP Leader emphasised that the selection of the opposition flag bearer should not be left entirely to political leaders negotiating behind closed doors.
She said ordinary voters must have a meaningful role in determining who eventually receives the opposition ticket.
“When we say it will involve the people, we mean it,” she said.
Her remarks signal a push for a selection process that goes beyond negotiations among party leaders and seeks to establish the candidate with the broadest public support.
The opposition has been under pressure to agree on a single candidate as political parties and leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 polls.
Candidate must have integrity, competence and vision
Karua said the opposition’s primary focus should not simply be on determining who becomes its leader, but on identifying a candidate capable of uniting the country and providing effective leadership.
She said the eventual nominee should be assessed on integrity, competence and vision.
“Defeating President Ruto at the ballot is key, but we must identify a leader around whom Kenyans can agree in terms of integrity, competence and vision to deliver change and build the Kenya we want,” Karua said.
The PLP leader also expressed confidence that supporters of different opposition presidential aspirants would rally behind the eventual nominee if the selection process is transparent and agreed upon beforehand.
“They are the ones demanding unity of purpose, and we as leaders, we’ll be telling them, ‘We are all agreed that the candidate must be one,’ so as to clinch power,” she said.
Who will lead the opposition in 2027?
The identity of the united opposition’s presidential flag bearer remains unsettled, with several prominent politicians linked to the race.
They include Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
The competing ambitions have made the question of how to settle on one candidate increasingly important as the 2027 election approaches.
Karua has previously advocated for a structured and verifiable process for selecting the opposition candidate, including mechanisms capable of capturing the views of voters.
Her latest comments therefore place public participation at the centre of the ongoing negotiations.
The opposition’s ability to agree on a transparent selection mechanism could ultimately determine whether the parties succeed in presenting a unified challenge to President Ruto.
