Mbae: Opposition will not name joint 2027 presidential candidate this year

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs Dr Peter Mbae has ruled out the possibility of the Opposition naming its joint presidential candidate before the end of the year.

Speaking during an interview with Radio Generation, Wednesday, Mbae said the coalition-building process must be allowed to run its course.

Mbae said the earliest the Opposition could settle on and announce its joint flagbearer would be January 2027, dismissing calls for the Opposition principals to quickly unite around one candidate ahead of the General Election.

He said the Opposition was under no pressure to rush the process, arguing that parties should first build their individual political structures before negotiating a coalition.

“I want to tell our people we have a plan, we are not in a hurry. People want us to greet and hug each other, then go where for the remaining months? Let the coalition building take its course,” Mbae said.

He said the Opposition should allow several parties to emerge and participate in the negotiations before a final political arrangement is reached.

“Let parties be five or even six. It is time for Kenyans to vet the people because in the end it is not the people in the boardroom who will choose the person to lead the alternative government lineup,” he said.

Mbae said voters rather than political leaders negotiating behind closed doors should influence the eventual candidate and running mate combination.

“It is the people who will give us the combination they want. It is the people who will say,” he said.

His remarks come amid growing pressure within Opposition ranks for an early decision on the presidential candidate to face President William Ruto in 2027.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is expected to formally launch his political vehicle in October, with his allies positioning him as the presidential candidate of the emerging Linda Mwananchi movement.

Mbae said DCP would hold its National Delegates Congress in November, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is expected to be endorsed as the party's presidential candidate.

“October is coming. Edwin Sifuna will announce his party, where he will be the party leader and presidential candidate. DCP will hold its NDC in November, which will endorse Gachagua as its candidate. Then the conversations will begin from there,” Mbae said.

He said serious negotiations among the Opposition parties would begin around January, with the parties expected to announce their eventual lineup as the election approaches.

“People will begin taking serious tea around January. We are going to announce our lineup as the days go by,” he said.

Mbae also appeared to dismiss calls for an earlier announcement, saying politicians who expected the joint candidate to be unveiled in November or December should be prepared to wait.

“Anybody who feels they want it to be announced around November or December, they can switch off, they can move on. We know what we are doing; we are not in a hurry,” he said.