The opposition's promise to unite ahead of the 2027 General Election is facing fresh scrutiny after a planned campaign tour by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi West MP Babu Owino brought renewed attention to the crowded Ol Kalou by-election race, where rival opposition parties are backing different candidates.
The July 12 tour by the Linda Mwananchi movement was announced in a notice shared by Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata on July 6. According to the programme, the team will campaign in Kanjuiri, Ngorika, Ol Kalou and Nyahururu from 10am.
Although Nyahururu falls under Laikipia County, it continues to play an important role for many people from Nyandarua, who still view it as the county's main business centre. Before the introduction of devolution, leaders from Nyandarua had pushed for the town to be named the county headquarters before Ol Kalou was eventually selected.
The campaign tour is scheduled to take place just one day before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) closes the official campaign period for the by-election.
The developments have once again exposed differences among opposition parties that have repeatedly pledged to rally behind one presidential candidate in 2027 but have failed to agree on a common candidate for the Ol Kalou contest.
Nine candidates are in the race, with eight of them linked to parties opposed to President William Ruto. Muchina Nyagah is the only candidate running on the ticket of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The contest comes even as opposition leaders, among them Rigathi Gachagua of DCP, Fred Matiang'i of Jubilee, Martha Karua of the People's Liberation Party, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, George Natembeya and Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party, continue to push for a joint political alliance ahead of the next General Election.
Despite those talks, Gachagua has thrown his weight behind DCP candidate Kamau Ngotho, while Jubilee has sponsored Wilson Kigwa, turning the by-election into what many political observers see as a contest over the future political direction of the Mt Kenya region.
The situation has become even more complicated following Matiang'i's cooperation agreement with Peter Munya's Party of National Unity (PNU), which has also fielded its own candidate in the race, further splitting the opposition vote.
Some opposition leaders have also kept away from the campaign trail, choosing not to publicly support candidates from their own parties.
The mixed signals have also been seen in individual campaigns. Jubilee nominated MP Sabina Chege has instead been campaigning for UDA candidate Muchina Nyagah rather than her party's candidate, Wilson Kigwa.