NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said he will support Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for president if the opposition agrees to back him as a joint candidate in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the Wiper National Delegates Conference (NDC) held at Uhuru Park on Friday, Matiang’i called on opposition figures to put aside personal ambitions and unite behind a single presidential flagbearer capable of challenging President William Ruto.
“We have agreed we must put ambition and everything else before the interest of this country,” Matiang’i told delegates. “When we sit together and the united opposition decides that you (Kalonzo) will be the candidate, I will support you, and we will support you.”
He emphasized that the selection of a joint opposition candidate must be consultative and inclusive, insisting that unity would be key to building a credible alternative to the ruling coalition.
“When that time comes, when we all sit together, consult everybody, and a method is found of identifying a candidate, we should all rally behind that individual. If that person is yourself, we will support and back you,” he said.
The former CS, who has kept a low political profile since leaving government in 2022, said forging a formidable opposition alliance would require patience, compromise, and strategic alignment.
“Building an opposition or coalition is a journey of alignments and coming together. We will be together in spite of our differences, not because we don’t have differences,” he added.
This morning, I joined fellow Opposition leaders at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, for the Wiper Patriotic Front National Delegates Conference. The moment reaffirmed our unity of purpose and reminded us of our shared duty to restore integrity, hope, and accountability in our nation’s
Matiang’i’s remarks come as opposition leaders step up efforts to forge a united front ahead of the 2027 elections, amid growing calls for a single presidential candidate.
Friday’s NDC drew several prominent opposition figures, including NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua, DAP–K leader Eugene Wamalwa, and Democratic Congress Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, among others.
Their joint appearances at public events have been widely interpreted as a show of solidarity despite simmering rivalries.
Kalonzo, a former Vice President and veteran politician, has emerged as one of the leading contenders being considered to challenge President Ruto in 2027.
Opposition parties have in recent weeks mounted joint rallies and grassroots mobilization drives in what is seen as an early test of their ability to work together ahead of coalition talks.