A United Opposition administration would move quickly to change how government operates, with Rigathi Gachagua promising major action on corruption, land grabbing, public appointments, the cost of living and the protection of citizens during its first 100 days in office.
Gachagua, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader, said the proposed programme was designed for the opposition as a whole and not for any one politician seeking the presidency in 2027.
Speaking to Kenyans in Spokane and Pullman, Washington, he said the new government would have to start by dealing with governance problems that can be addressed through political will, especially because the country would face serious financial pressure.
According to Gachagua, public debt would be above Sh13 trillion, while pending bills would stand at about Sh800 billion. He also pointed to slow economic growth as one of the major problems the next administration would have to confront.
He said the situation would make it difficult for a new government to immediately roll out expensive programmes, making institutional reforms a more practical starting point.
"The country will be having high expectations, but the most urgent work plan will be to implement what requires political goodwill," Mr Gachagua said.
He said restoring confidence in public institutions, protecting human dignity and removing what he called State capture would not need large amounts of money to begin.
One of his key proposals is to reopen investigations into the deaths of Gen Z protesters during the 2024 and 2025 demonstrations and pursue prosecutions where necessary.
His plan also includes improving mental healthcare and cancelling title deeds he said were issued illegally on community land.
Gachagua claimed about 150,000 acres of land had been taken by powerful individuals in government and said the titles connected to the land should be removed once the opposition takes power.
"There are about 150,000 acres that have been grabbed by powerful people in government and all the titles awarded must be cancelled in the first 100 days," he said.
The DCP leader also wants hotels allegedly put up along wildlife corridors demolished, saying such action would form part of the wider effort to correct what he described as abuse of public resources and protected spaces.
In areas where female genital mutilation and early marriage remain a problem, Gachagua proposed the construction of girls' boarding schools at ward level.
He also accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of making life harder for ordinary citizens through the rising cost of living while failing to stop conflicts of interest and State capture.
A future opposition government, he said, would seek to cut taxes and bring down the cost of living while taking a tougher stand against illicit brews.
Gachagua further promised to restore merit in government appointments and introduce a zero-tolerance policy towards political violence.
He said the programme should not be viewed as a personal campaign plan because the opposition would collectively determine the priorities of the administration.
"Whether it is me, Kalonzo Musyoka who is seasoned, cool and wise, Edwin Sifuna and his agility, Dr Fred Matiang'i who is a renowned workaholic, or Martha Karua whose eyesight is steady and focused on standards, the job will be done because it is a collective agenda," he said.
The proposals come as opposition leaders negotiate over how to present a united front against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua has previously indicated that he could take the deputy presidency under Sifuna or back another opposition figure if the political numbers show that candidate has the best chance of defeating Ruto.
He said his stay in the United States was also aimed at engaging Kenyans living abroad and developing ideas that could help opposition leaders reach an agreement.
"I ran away from undue influence and while here, I will try to come up with my own view of how we can combine strengths so as to defeat President William Ruto. I will table that proposal once we meet as opposition principals. All of us on the negotiation table will table proposals and we will discuss them ahead of naming our presidential candidate, earliest in March 2027," he said.
Gachagua also wants Kenyans living abroad to play a bigger role in the country's economy.
He proposed the creation of a diaspora bank that would allow Kenyans abroad to retain interest, service fees and commissions generated through remittances.
Beyond money sent home, he said the skills and knowledge gained by Kenyans living in other countries could also be used to support the local economy.
His proposed administration would introduce commercial diplomacy, under which ambassadors would be expected to help market Kenyan agricultural products, tourism and other exports in the countries where they serve.
Gachagua said Kenyans abroad could also benefit financially by helping bring tourists to Kenya and creating markets for local farm products.
"It is not just about diaspora remittances. It is also about the brains they use to prosper in foreign lands. We want to start commercial diplomacy where we give commission for any tourist the diaspora recommends to come to Kenya and for any agricultural produce you help us sell, he said.
The proposals add to the ongoing discussions among opposition principals as they seek to combine their political strengths and agree on a single candidate for the 2027 presidential contest.