Malala: Wantam slogans alone won’t get us elected, we need an agenda

Democracy for Citizens Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala has urged opposition leaders to move beyond the “Wantam” slogan and present Kenyans with clear policies and an implementation plan ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Malala said opposition politicians must explain what they intend to do differently from the current administration and make specific commitments to voters instead of relying on calls for President William Ruto to serve only one term.

“We need to have an agenda. We need to sell hope. We need to have commitments,” Malala said.

He said politicians seeking support should be prepared to explain how their proposed programmes would be implemented and where the money to finance them would come from.

“Apart from kujicommit kwa the electorate, what are you going to do differently?” he asked.

Malala added that simply asking voters to support a one-term presidency would not be enough.

“Because kama unasema tu one term, I don't think I can elect you because umesema ni one term. We must develop an agenda.”

He said opposition leaders should use their platforms to outline specific measures they would introduce if elected.

His remarks come as opposition parties and leaders continue efforts to build a united political platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

The emerging opposition coalition has publicly maintained that its central objective is to challenge Ruto's re-election bid, with Wantam becoming one of its most prominent political slogans.

In July, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said he was prepared to shelve his presidential ambitions if opposition leaders agreed that another candidate offered a better chance of defeating Ruto.

He said he is willing to support the eventual candidate if his colleagues persuaded him to give way.

Malala has meanwhile been involved in discussions over the opposition's leadership structure and proposed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for either the presidency or deputy presidency.

In August, he publicly backed Sifuna's presidential ambitions and said he would stand with him for the presidency.

Malala has also previously argued that Western Kenya should secure one of the coalition's top two positions if the region does not produce the presidential candidate.

In July, he said the opposition should consider Sifuna for the deputy presidency.

The opposition has yet to settle on a presidential candidate or announce a formal process and timeline for selecting its flag bearer.

On Monday, Siaya Governor James Orengo said the time had come for opposition parties to move beyond consultations and begin building a coalition capable of presenting a united front against the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“The time is now and we must get into the business of building this coalition,” Orengo said, while referring to the “One Term, One Team, One Coalition” slogan.

Malala's latest call therefore places the question of policy and implementation alongside the ongoing negotiations over who should lead the opposition into the election.

He said political parties should not present broad manifestos without showing how their proposals would be financed and executed.

“We are also encouraging political parties. This time round, watu wasidanganywe na mambo ya agenda pekee,” Malala said.

He pointed to the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda as an example of the distinction between a policy document and its implementation.

“When you look at the plan, hiyo ya bottom-up, it is a very good academic paper. But the implementation is where we want to concentrate on,” he said.

Malala said opposition parties should therefore accompany their manifestos with detailed implementation matrices showing the source of funding, timelines and the practical steps required to deliver their promises.

Utuambie umesema utajenga barabara kutoka Busia mpaka Singapore. Utuambie budget itatoka wapi?” he said.

“We want to see an implementation matrix. Both academic and leadership. We need to have an agenda."