Former Cabinet Minister Mukhisa Kituyi has removed himself from the 2027 political race, saying he will not seek an elective position as opposition leaders work towards finding one candidate to challenge President William Ruto.
Kituyi said the priority for the opposition should be to agree on a shared political programme and build a covenant with Kenyans before deciding who will carry the opposition’s presidential ticket.
“We still remain committed to fielding a single presidential candidate against Ruto. I am not running for any elective office,” Kituyi said.
The former minister said the push for a common opposition platform has received backing from former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, former Justice Minister Martha Karua and Siaya Governor James Orengo.
According to Kituyi, the three leaders have supported discussions aimed at shaping the proposed covenant and setting out the issues the opposition would take to Kenyans ahead of the 2027 election.
He also explained his decision to work with the Linda Mwananchi team, saying he sees the group as an alternative political platform that could help bring new ideas into the opposition debate.
“I decided on my own that the Linda Mwananchi team is interesting; they are a fresh gust of air,” he said.
Kituyi said Linda Mwananchi could play a role in bringing together a detailed agenda and political message that would allow the team to compete with other groups seeking influence within the opposition.
He said developing such content would be important as opposition leaders consider the various personalities who could be presented for the presidential race.
“Maybe around them can be developed a comprehensive agenda and content that can give them a fair chance in competition with the others about who should become the candidate for president,” Kituyi said.
His position leaves him outside the list of politicians seeking an elective post in 2027, even as he continues to support the opposition’s efforts to build a united front.
Kituyi’s focus is instead on the wider process of creating a common agenda and selecting one presidential candidate who can take on Ruto, with the opposition expected to settle its political direction before the polls.
The strategy places unity at the centre of the opposition’s preparations, with Kituyi insisting that the focus should be on what the alliance will offer Kenyans as leaders weigh the best candidate to face Ruto.