Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i has called for an election to determine the United Opposition’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying Kenyans should have the final say on who challenges President William Ruto.
Matiang’i argued that opposition leaders should not decide on behalf of their supporters or impose a preferred candidate without giving ordinary Kenyans an opportunity to participate in the process.
“Kenyans must have the final say in choosing the flag bearer. No leader should dictate whom the people must support,” Matiang’i stated.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary added that the country’s political future belongs to citizens and their voices must guide the selection of the coalition’s presidential candidate.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions among opposition leaders seeking to agree on a single candidate to face Ruto in the August 2027 elections.
The coalition brings together several political figures with presidential ambitions, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and Matiang’i himself.
The question of who will carry the coalition’s presidential ticket has remained a major subject in the ongoing negotiations, with leaders yet to agree on a common selection formula.
Matiang’i has previously advocated for a transparent and inclusive process, warning that coalition building would require leaders to respect each other’s political interests and ambitions.
In an interview with the Daily Nation published on October 5, he acknowledged the difficulty of bringing together several parties and presidential hopefuls, noting that each had different interests and expectations.
“One critical criterion of how we are going to succeed in that conversation is to absolutely respect each party, each presidential candidate, each party leader and each interest. Even a political party that has two members counts. Everyone counts,” he said.
His latest position also comes against the backdrop of disagreements over the use of opinion polls to identify the opposition’s flag bearer.
In August, Kalonzo cautioned against relying on opinion polls, arguing that they could be manipulated to influence the outcome of the selection process.
Meanwhile, Jubilee’s National Executive Council named Matiang’i its presidential candidate on October 30, placing him among the leaders seeking the opposition’s support for the 2027 race.
The former Cabinet Secretary’s proposal now adds to the debate over whether the United Opposition should settle on its presidential candidate through negotiations among party leaders or a wider process involving voters.