Democratic Action Party-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has said opposition leaders eyeing the presidency have agreed to rally behind a single candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that while all of them qualify for the country's top seat, only one will carry the coalition's flag.
Speaking during a live interview on Citizen TV on Sunday, Wamalwa said leaders involved in ongoing opposition talks have embraced what he described as the "musketeer spirit" of unity, where all members commit to supporting whoever is eventually selected to lead the coalition.
“We all qualify to occupy that office, but we cannot all do it at the same time,” Wamalwa said.
“But whoever we agree on will only be the first amongst equals and we will all unite behind that candidate. That candidate will be carrying our shared vision, our shared values and the policy changes we want to make to better the lives of Kenyans.”
Wamalwa said opposition leaders have been consulting and building consensus as they travel across the country, adding that the coalition is being guided by principles similar to those that united the National Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2002 general election.
“The last principle is that of the musketeer spirit. All for one and one for all. As we have been going around the country, we have been bonding and gelling and we are all agreeing that we all qualify to occupy that office,” he said.
Asked whether all presidential hopefuls would be willing to support the eventual flag bearer, Wamalwa maintained that the coalition was committed to remaining united regardless of who emerges as the candidate.
“Yes, all for one and one for all. That is the spirit, the musketeer spirit that made us succeed in the Narc movement of 2002, and that is the path we will follow,” he said.
Wamalwa expressed confidence that the opposition alliance would replicate the unity that propelled Narc to victory more than two decades ago.
“Those who are doubting us tonight, I can tell them that history is repeating itself. The 2002 Narc movement win is going to be the path we follow in 2027,” he said.
He said opposition leaders have already agreed on key policy priorities they would pursue if they form the next government.
According to Wamalwa, the coalition is united on the need to address what he termed a broken system of governance, challenges in the health and education sectors, high taxation, insecurity and corruption.
“We are agreeing on what needs to be done in terms of dealing with a broken government, the health sector, the education sector and the failing Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda system,” he said.
“Starting with the taxes that have bled Kenyans white, starting with the corruption that is bleeding Kenya white, the runaway insecurity, the wastage in government and the runaway corruption, all these things we are agreeing on.”
Wamalwa said the agreed priorities would remain the same regardless of whether the coalition eventually settles on him, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i or another candidate.
“It matters not if it is Wamalwa or Kalonzo or whoever else, or Matiang’i. We have agreed on that,” he said.
He said the opposition has already established a technical team comprising experts drawn from participating parties to work on the framework that will guide the coalition.
“I can assure the country that we have already formed a team. We have a technical team where all parties have seconded their experts, and they are already working on this,” he said.
Wamalwa said coalition members will be required to sign commitments affirming their support for whoever emerges as the flag bearer.
“If it is not Eugene, I will be ready to support whoever will be the candidate. But also, if I happen to be given the honour of carrying that flag, then I will expect the support of all my colleagues in the opposition,” he said.
