Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has urged Kenya’s opposition leaders to name their joint presidential flag bearer immediately, warning that delaying the decision until December 2026 could deepen divisions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Owino made the remarks on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during a meeting with Linda Mwananchi aspirants in Nairobi to plan for an upcoming rally.
The MP, who is also eyeing the Nairobi governor’s seat, rejected calls for opposition leaders to wait until December before negotiating on who should represent them in the presidential race.
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He argued that waiting until late in the election cycle could see opposition politicians become more focused on defending their individual political interests, leaving little time to campaign for a joint presidential candidate.
“Hii, Mambo ya opposition inasema itaunite in December or next year; they will lose elections. By December there will be so much interest, mpaka tena kila mtu atakuwa anataka kuenda kivyake. The best time for these people to unite is now. If they unveil one candidate and begin to campaign, it will be an early win for them. The more they wait, the more they split. Without opposition unity, we will suffer,” Babu said.
His remarks have added pressure to an increasingly divisive debate within the opposition over when and how to select a candidate capable of challenging President William Ruto in 2027.
Gachagua backs later flag bearer decision
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has taken a different position, arguing against an early declaration of the opposition presidential candidate.
Gachagua has maintained that opposition leaders should first consolidate their political bases before entering negotiations over the flag bearer.
His position is that each opposition principal should demonstrate the support they command before a final agreement is reached.
Siaya Governor James Orengo has also supported a later decision, pointing to the 2002 election when opposition leaders rallied behind Mwai Kibaki through the “Kibaki Tosha” declaration only months before the election.
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Orengo has argued that opposition unity is more important than announcing the presidential candidate early.
Muturi backs early announcement
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, however, has backed the call for an early announcement.
Muturi argues that naming the opposition candidate early would give the coalition enough time to introduce the candidate to voters, build a national campaign and mobilise supporters ahead of the 2027 election.
The competing positions have exposed a key strategic question facing Kenya’s opposition: whether to settle on a presidential candidate early and build momentum around the individual, or delay the decision while each political leader strengthens their own support base.
For Babu Owino, the risk lies in waiting too long.
His warning is that prolonged negotiations could allow individual interests to overtake the wider opposition project, making it harder for the factions to unite behind one presidential candidate when the election approaches.
