Kalonzo delivers major 2027 hint as he says he is ready to deputise Sifuna in bid to unseat Ruto
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has opened the door to a potential Sifuna-Kalonzo presidential ticket in 2027, saying he would have no problem deputising Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna if the opposition agrees to make him its presidential flag bearer.
The former Vice President made the remarks during an interview with NTV on Monday, August 10, as opposition leaders continue efforts to establish a single political vehicle capable of mounting a serious challenge to President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo said his priority was ensuring the opposition does not repeat the divisions that have characterised previous elections, insisting that leaders must be prepared to support whichever candidate is ultimately agreed upon.
“This time, we are not leaving anything to chance. We have agreed that whatever it takes. Of course, I have no problem at all in supporting Sifuna,” Kalonzo said.
His remarks potentially place him in the running-mate conversation should Sifuna emerge as the opposition’s preferred presidential candidate.
However, Kalonzo stopped short of declaring that a Sifuna-Kalonzo ticket had been agreed upon. Instead, he stressed that he would support a broader opposition agreement, regardless of who ultimately secures the top position.
“I will support this and the other. I am quite sure, and I can tell you, Sifuna has no problem supporting me either. I have no problem supporting him. I have no problem supporting Gachagua,” he added.
Kalonzo also named other prominent opposition figures who could feature in the negotiations, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and former Justice Minister Martha Karua.
“I hope I’ve answered your question. It’s not a simple yes, Sifuna or Kalonzo or Gachagua or Eugene Wamalwa or Martha Karua,” he said.
Sifuna’s rising profile
Kalonzo’s comments come at a time when Sifuna’s profile has been rising within opposition politics.
A TIFA survey released on July 24 found that 44 per cent of ODM supporters identified Sifuna as their preferred presidential candidate if an election were held at the time of the survey. President William Ruto followed with 20 per cent among ODM supporters, while former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i received nine per cent. Kalonzo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino each recorded four per cent.
The survey was conducted between June 13 and June 22 among 2,048 randomly selected Kenyan adults across all 47 counties, meaning the figures represent opinions captured during that period rather than a prediction of the 2027 election result.
Within UDA, however, Ruto remained overwhelmingly dominant, with 84 per cent of the party’s supporters saying they would back him for another term, according to the same survey. The poll also showed strong support for Kalonzo among Wiper supporters, with 90 per cent backing him as their preferred presidential candidate.
The figures underline the challenge facing opposition leaders: while individual candidates may command strong support within particular political parties or blocs, forging a nationwide coalition will require them to negotiate who takes the presidency and who accepts the deputy presidency.
Opposition unity becomes key issue
Sifuna has in recent weeks stepped up grassroots mobilisation while repeatedly backing the idea of a single opposition candidate to face Ruto.
Kalonzo’s latest comments could therefore strengthen calls for an early agreement among opposition leaders, although there is no indication that the final presidential ticket has been settled.
The Wiper leader’s willingness to consider a subordinate position is also significant given his own presidential ambitions and the long-running competition among opposition figures seeking to lead the anti-Ruto coalition.
For now, Kalonzo appears to be keeping all options open — including a Sifuna-Kalonzo ticket — while insisting that the ultimate objective should be an opposition alliance strong enough to defeat Ruto in 2027.
With the election still ahead, the battle over who will lead the opposition may prove almost as important as the eventual contest against the incumbent.
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