By Anderson Ojwang
The political game for the 2027 presidential election is finally unfolding, with the opposition releasing its first arsenal and tactic in readiness to face off with President William Ruto.
In the new development, the opposition has dropped the name and rebranded Azimio la Umoja to Ukombozi Alliance, with former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the chairman.
The move is a strategic and calculative one, as it makes the coalition an all-inclusive and purposeful group.
The move draws the battle line to a contest between Ukombozi Alliance against the Broad-Based Alliance.
What the move means in the political context
The move to rebrand to Ukombozi Alliance from Azimio la Umoja Coalition is a politically correct one, as it allows the other opposition leaders, who were initially in the Kenya Kwanza coalition of President William Ruto, to be accommodated and feel part of the outfit.
For Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, DP of JB Muturi, Umoja na Maendeleo Party of former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, former Chief Justice David Maraga of the Green Movement Party and other coalition partners moving into the new outfit, which is a clean slate.
Already, Gachagua allies had rejected a move to join Azimio la Umoja, saying formation of a new coalition was paramount.
Again, with the demise of the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate in the 2022 General Election, Raila Amolo Odinga, the change of the brand was what gave the opposition a fresh start.
With the death of Raila and his party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the main partner shifting alliance to the broad-based alliance with President William Ruto and now crafting a pre-election coalition pact, Azimio was left wobbling and needed a new identity.
The sponyo Muigai Kenyatta
The return of the alleged sponyo (sponsor), Uhuru Kenyatta, at the helm is a political nightmare to President Ruto. He recently termed Uhuru as a rebel and sponsor of the opposition against his government.
In another blow to Ruto, the High Court ruled as void and null a section of the Constitution that barred a retired president from holding political office.
Uhuru now becomes the centre of unity in the Ukombozi Alliance, and his financial muscle will be an added asset to the financially malnourished opposition.
Ruto recently termed Uhuru as a rebel and the sponsor of the opposition outfit Linda Mwananchi and other groupings and accused him of sabotaging his government.
“He was the president of Kenya. Instead of going into retirement to be a statesman, you have turned yourself into a rebel leader, the leader of the opposition,” he said.
Ruto reminded Uhuru that he defeated him in the last General Election and that he lacks the capacity to defeat him this time.
Ruto wondered how Uhuru could defeat him in the 2027 presidential election now that he is the President.
“If I defeated you when you were the president, how can you defeat me now when you are in retirement? Surely that can never happen,” he said.
The Court freedom
Justice Bahati Mwamuye on Monday, September 21, ruled that a retired president is not barred from engaging in active politics.
According to the court, it is unlawful for the law to control the private life of a private citizen.
“The person thereafter stands in a fundamentally different constitutional position: he or she is a private citizen,” the judge said in the ruling.
The ruling comes days after another court barred retired presidents from holding positions in a political party six months after retirement.
Delivered on Monday, September 14, the court ruled that former Heads of State can continue participating in political activities but cannot hold party leadership positions beyond the six months.
Single Presidential candidate
With the unveiling of the Ukombozi Alliance, the opposition is moving closer to a single presidential candidate built on a consensus.
For President Ruto, the coalition could be a political nightmare, as it finally brings Uhuru and Gachagua, the main leaders from Mt Kenya, together and they will walk away with the majority of the region’s votes, which were instrumental in the Kenya Kwanza victory in the 2022 General Election.
The faces
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the move to form the coalition was made after a unanimous agreement by parties within the faction and will be headed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“After today, this podium will change because the Azimio la Umoja coalition has today unanimously agreed to rebrand and change its name to the Ukombozi Alliance,” Kalonzo noted.
“Let the country know that we are on the move. The coalition chair is Uhuru Kenyatta, and tomorrow, he is convening a Jubilee Party meeting to make the necessary decisions, which will be communicated to the Ukombozi Alliance.”
Kalonzo noted that all necessary action will be taken after the meeting, including the official handover of the coalition’s chairmanship to the Registrar of Political Parties.
He further welcomed Siaya Governor James Orengo and former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The Ukombozi is the first opposition salient move on President Ruto and, with time, the two main groupings will be counter-checking each move, and now the battle begins.
Opposition fires first arsenal on President Ruto with revelation of Ukombozi Alliance
By Anderson Ojwang
The political game for the 2027 presidential election is finally unfolding, with the opposition releasing its first arsenal and tactic in readiness to face off with President William Ruto.
In the new development, the opposition has dropped the name and rebranded Azimio la Umoja to Ukombozi Alliance, with former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the chairman.
The move is a strategic and calculative one, as it makes the coalition an all-inclusive and purposeful group.
The move draws the battle line to a contest between Ukombozi Alliance against the Broad-Based Alliance.
What the move means in the political context
The move to rebrand to Ukombozi Alliance from Azimio la Umoja Coalition is a politically correct one, as it allows the other opposition leaders, who were initially in the Kenya Kwanza coalition of President William Ruto, to be accommodated and feel part of the outfit.
For Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, DP of JB Muturi, Umoja na Maendeleo Party of former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, former Chief Justice David Maraga of the Green Movement Party and other coalition partners moving into the new outfit, which is a clean slate.
Already, Gachagua allies had rejected a move to join Azimio la Umoja, saying formation of a new coalition was paramount.
Again, with the demise of the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate in the 2022 General Election, Raila Amolo Odinga, the change of the brand was what gave the opposition a fresh start.
With the death of Raila and his party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the main partner shifting alliance to the broad-based alliance with President William Ruto and now crafting a pre-election coalition pact, Azimio was left wobbling and needed a new identity.
The sponyo Muigai Kenyatta
The return of the alleged sponyo (sponsor), Uhuru Kenyatta, at the helm is a political nightmare to President Ruto. He recently termed Uhuru as a rebel and sponsor of the opposition against his government.
In another blow to Ruto, the High Court ruled as void and null a section of the Constitution that barred a retired president from holding political office.
Uhuru now becomes the centre of unity in the Ukombozi Alliance, and his financial muscle will be an added asset to the financially malnourished opposition.
Ruto recently termed Uhuru as a rebel and the sponsor of the opposition outfit Linda Mwananchi and other groupings and accused him of sabotaging his government.
“He was the president of Kenya. Instead of going into retirement to be a statesman, you have turned yourself into a rebel leader, the leader of the opposition,” he said.
Ruto reminded Uhuru that he defeated him in the last General Election and that he lacks the capacity to defeat him this time.
Ruto wondered how Uhuru could defeat him in the 2027 presidential election now that he is the President.
“If I defeated you when you were the president, how can you defeat me now when you are in retirement? Surely that can never happen,” he said.
The Court freedom
Justice Bahati Mwamuye on Monday, September 21, ruled that a retired president is not barred from engaging in active politics.
According to the court, it is unlawful for the law to control the private life of a private citizen.
“The person thereafter stands in a fundamentally different constitutional position: he or she is a private citizen,” the judge said in the ruling.
The ruling comes days after another court barred retired presidents from holding positions in a political party six months after retirement.
Delivered on Monday, September 14, the court ruled that former Heads of State can continue participating in political activities but cannot hold party leadership positions beyond the six months.
Single Presidential candidate
With the unveiling of the Ukombozi Alliance, the opposition is moving closer to a single presidential candidate built on a consensus.
For President Ruto, the coalition could be a political nightmare, as it finally brings Uhuru and Gachagua, the main leaders from Mt Kenya, together and they will walk away with the majority of the region’s votes, which were instrumental in the Kenya Kwanza victory in the 2022 General Election.
The faces
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the move to form the coalition was made after a unanimous agreement by parties within the faction and will be headed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“After today, this podium will change because the Azimio la Umoja coalition has today unanimously agreed to rebrand and change its name to the Ukombozi Alliance,” Kalonzo noted.
“Let the country know that we are on the move. The coalition chair is Uhuru Kenyatta, and tomorrow, he is convening a Jubilee Party meeting to make the necessary decisions, which will be communicated to the Ukombozi Alliance.”
Kalonzo noted that all necessary action will be taken after the meeting, including the official handover of the coalition’s chairmanship to the Registrar of Political Parties.
He further welcomed Siaya Governor James Orengo and former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The Ukombozi is the first opposition salient move on President Ruto and, with time, the two main groupings will be counter-checking each move, and now the battle begins.
