NAIROBI, Kenya – Sharp cracks have emerged in the United Opposition team hours before its official launch.
The United Opposition team is led by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Other principals include Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Martha Karua, Mithika Linturi, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya, and Justin Muturi, among others.
On Tuesday, September 3, 2025, the team met at a Nairobi hotel in a meeting that lasted almost four hours.
During the meeting, the team appointed Dr. Mukhisa to the opposition outfit’s secretariat.
“The United Opposition has appointed Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi as their spokesperson and the Head of the Opposition Secretariat,” Gachagua posted on his official X account (formerly Twitter) after the meeting.
Dr. Mukhisa was endorsed by all the principals present at the meeting, which was presided over by Kalonzo.
What Cleophas Malala said about Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
However, barely hours after the unity summit, Citizens for Democracy Party (DCP) deputy leader Cleophas Malala, who gave the event a wide berth, dismissed Dr. Mukhisa’s appointment as the coalition’s spokesperson and head of secretariat.
Malala branded the former United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD) secretary general outdated and lacking the youthful energy needed to inspire the future.
“My position on the choice of the spokesperson is that the United Opposition deserves to demonstrate willingness in engaging with fresh youthful leadership that can propel the country to the next frontier of politics and governance, qualities which Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi is acutely lacking,” Malala said while refusing the board the new political agreement.
Additionally, Malala maintains his hard stands on the upcoming Malava parliamentary by-election slated for November 27, 2027.
The coalition had prevailed on the DCP party and the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) to have one of them stand down their candidates to prevent splitting their votes.
Why Malala wants DCP to field a candidate in Malava
However, Malala maintains as the DCP deputy party leader from Kakamega County, he ought to lead campaigns for the candidate all the way to the ballot, with DAP-K leadership also sticking to their guns.
In an effort to unite the team around a single identity ahead of the November by-elections and the general election in 2027, the United Opposition is scheduled to reveal its official outfit name and symbol next week.
The team decided to conduct a massive political demonstration in Kisii on Monday, September 8, 2025, the week after they met to assess their political marriage in anticipation of the by-election on November 27, 2025, and the 2027 elections, which are less than two years away.
The coalition is anticipated to formally reveal its name, along with a symbol and slogan, on Monday to present a unified front.
Ahead of the by-elections, which have been characterised as a do-or-die acid test, the action is expected to reorganise and restore the opposition’s momentum.
What is expected on Monday within the United Opposition
The group is considering a Swahili moniker as a potential strategy to appeal to a wider audience.
Monday is also anticipated to see the unveiling of the Secretariat, which will be headed by Dr. Mukhisa.
Just one month after its inception, the Kenya Moja Coalition, which combines young MPs from across the political divide, has already enthralled the public.
However, while the teams continue to fortify their parties, an attempt to have the coalition announce its presidential candidate within the next two months was delayed.
All the top party principals have indicated that they would like to run for the country’s top job.
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