Editor's Review
Martha Karua has dismissed reports claiming that opposition leaders had reached an agreement on a proposed political arrangement involving Kalonzo Musyoka, Edwin Sifuna and Fred Matiang’i.
PLP leader Martha Karua has dismissed reports claiming that opposition leaders had reached an agreement on a proposed political arrangement involving Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i.
Claims circulating online suggested that the opposition had settled on Kalonzo as its presidential candidate, with Sifuna as Deputy President and Matiang’i as Prime Cabinet Secretary.
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The reports sparked discussions about the possibility of a united opposition team, with the proposed arrangement being viewed as a potential breakthrough in efforts to establish a common political front against President William Ruto.
However, responding to the claims, Karua dismissed the reports, questioning how such an agreement could have been reached without an established framework to guide the negotiations.
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"Not true how do you reach agreement without any ground rules?" she said in an update on Tuesday, November 10.
This comes days after Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua stated that the Mt Kenya region will not join 2027 pre-election deals blindly.
Referencing supposed betrayal by President William Ruto, Gachagua told Sifuna that the region will no longer hand over its vote freely and that dialogue is the price of its support.
"Sifuna, here in the Mt Kenya region, we cast our votes haphazardly in the last election. We just handed them to Ruto; without thinking, without any prior discussion. This time around, securing the mountain's vote requires dialogue," he said.
Sifuna, who is eyeing the presidency in 2027, has been courting the region.
Gachagua noted that his native region was yet to settle on who to support, adding that it was also seeking support to have their own presidential candidate.
"We will not be rushed into naming a candidate, certainly not. We intend to take our time and look carefully. We are also asking others to support us," Gachagua said.
Gachagua had earlier said that Mt Kenya would support Sifuna if he emerged as the opposition's joint candidate.
However, the foregoing would be dependent on whether Sifuna has the requisite numerical strength.
Gachagua further explained why Mt Kenya is wary, in remarks that appeared to refer to Ruto.
"Someone came to us wearing a sheep's skin, but underneath, he was a leopard. He has caused us great distress as a community; he is destroying us," he added.
Gachagua accused Ruto of ruining the economy, costing people their jobs, and insulting the community by labelling it tribalist.
He said Mt Kenya would now vet anyone seeking its support and set out the qualities it would demand of a partner.
"We will exercise great care and conduct due diligence to ensure that the partners we choose are honest, possess integrity and honour, uphold moral standards, keep their promises, and are not malicious," he further said.
