Cracks within the opposition are widening, with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) and Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Patriotic Front appearing to differ over who should carry the opposition's flag in the 2027 General Election.
Wiper, through its spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru, dismissed claims by DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala that it was seeking to persuade Kalonzo Musyoka to back Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) leader Edwin Sifuna as the opposition's presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election against President William Ruto.
Malala had claimed that DCP had already settled on Sifuna to carry the opposition's flag, with the party in talks with Kalonzo to also back the Nairobi Senator.
Speaking on Saturday during the welcoming ceremony of the Kakamega DCP Party Youth leader Lewis Ndumbi, Malala said that DCP would meet Kalonzo on Monday to have him back Sifuna and potentially deputise him in the coming elections.
DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala during an event in Kakamega County on October 24, 2026
Cleo Malala
"You saw Rigathi Gachagua and Sifuna shake hands recently; we will also talk to Kalonzo on Monday so that he can back Sifuna. Gachagua and I have already agreed to back him for the seat," Malala said.
In response, Ndegwa Njiru, Wiper's spokesperson, dismissed the claims, urging the public not to take Malala's sentiments seriously.
According to the Wiper official, Malala's remarks are politically motivated drama intended to create divisions within the opposition, rather than contribute constructively to its agenda.
"I urge the media to treat this statement with the contempt it deserves. The remarks attributed to Senator Malala can only be characterised as the work of a playwright rather than a serious political actor. Malala appears intent on driving a divisive knife through the heart of the opposition," Njiru said.
The proposed meeting comes as opposition leaders consider forming a joint political front to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
While Kalonzo had earlier announced that he was ready to deputise Sifuna, the latest remarks from his party official indicate that the opposition has not yet agreed on who the flagbearer will be, as Kalonzo, Sifuna and other opposition figures intensify their push to become the joint flagbearer.
The opposition has emphasised the need for a single candidate, but the process of settling on one candidate has proved to be hard, as each principal claims they are the best fit to challenge Ruto.
The principals are also pointing fingers at each other for working against a joint ticket and bringing divisions from within, so as to hand Ruto an early lead.
DCP Secretary General John Methu accused Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Jubilee Party Leader Fred Matiang'i of working for Ruto and against the joint ticket.
Meanwhile, Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua maintains that the opposition is united with a single presidential candidate set to be named soon, despite reports that some principals are threatening to go their own way if they are not settled on as the candidate.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru
Photo
Dawan Africa