By Anderson Ojwang
The return of a Pentagon similar to the 2007 Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) one is in the offing in the united opposition to face off with President William Ruto.
With 14 months to the next general elections, the opposition is building a Pentagon to face President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential election, and the group promises a battle of the decade.
In the mix and at the table of opposition negotiation forming the Pentagon are leaders representing specific regions and interests.
The team
At the table is the Wiper leader Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, the current leader of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition, who represents the Lower Eastern region.
In the mix is the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the face of Mt Kenya in the negotiation. Currently, Gachagua’s DCP party is the most popular party in the Mt Kenya region.
Joining Gachagua’s corner are leaders from the region, Martha Karua and JB Muturi, and other fringe parties from Mt Kenya, with the former Deputy President at the lead.
Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Dr Fred Matiang’i represents the party and the Gusii community at the negotiation table. Currently, the Jubilee Party leader is former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is a critic of President William Ruto’s regime. President Uhuru, in the 2022 general elections, supported the Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate, the late Raila Odinga, against his deputy, Ruto.
The constant in Kenya’s politics from pre-independence and post-independence, the Luo community, nearly missed out on the table.
The broad-based alliance and the proposed pre-election alliance between President Ruto and the Dr Oburu Oginga-led ODM alienated the community from the opposition table.
But the emergence of Linda Mwananchi and the declaration by Siaya Governor James Orengo as the de facto leader of ODM and his growing political influence not only in Nyanza but nationally returned the community to being among the Pentagon members.
Orengo will be leading the Luo community at the negotiation table and is already receiving support from the community in his new political dispensation.
Orengo also recently declared his presidential intent in the 2027 general elections.
The ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna will be representing the Luhya community and the Gen Z block at the Pentagon table. The move by the Oburu-led faction to sack Sifuna from the post catapulted him to an emerging political significance in the country.
Sifuna also enjoys the support of the Gen Z, who view him as the representation of their ideal at the negotiation table.
The Luhya declaration
On Monday, leaders from the Luhya community in the opposition converged in Trans Nzoia in a meeting hosted by Governor George Natembeya and included Sifuna, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, among others.
The leaders announced the homecoming party for Sifuna and the unveiling by the community to contest the country’s presidency.
Natembeya said: “We called this meeting to consult and discuss politics and the future of Western Kenya as we head to next year’s general elections,” he said.
Natembeya said it was incumbent upon the Luhya community to discuss the future of the community and not relegate it to outsiders.
“We have started to plan our politics, and today we have agreed to start the journey with our people. We will have a meeting in Trans Nzoia on 25th July and a homecoming the next day on 26th in Bungoma,” he said.
He said the Bungoma homecoming rally will be used to unveil Sifuna’s presidential intent and undergo blessings from the community elders and leadership.
“We will be in Bungoma for a homecoming. All leaders will converge in Bungoma on that day. In Bungoma, the elders will bless our son, Sifuna, to go out in search of the presidency,” he said.
Natembeya said the community leaders will then embark on campaigns in all 38 constituencies to rally support for Sifuna.
“We will have meetings in every constituency in the Luhya community, while Sifuna will be traversing the country. We will traverse 38 constituencies in Western Kenya. Our MPs are in Ruto’s camp, so we declare war on them. We will be in one political party in next year’s election,” he said.
Sifuna thanked the community and the leaders for standing by him in his political quest.
“We were together in a 10-hour meeting with these leaders. I want to thank Natembeya. He has brought us together to speak and consult. I need Natembeya in my journey. I will not let you down. We are coming home to Bungoma, and I have traversed this country. They want leadership change. I am confident,” he said.
Kalonzo’s moment
Kalonzo is a man of the moment, as the stars seem to be lining and aligning towards him. At the end of the tunnel, there is light.
It is becoming crystal clear day by day that Kalonzo could be the probable presidential flag bearer in the 2027 contest against President William Ruto of Kenya Kwanza.
And within the government ranks, President Ruto’s allies have offered and extended an olive branch to Kalonzo for a political handshake ahead of the August 10th 2027 general elections.
Democratic Party leader JB Muturi has declared his support for Kalonzo as the preferred presidential candidate.
“We don’t have a presidential candidate because we fear that when we name the person, we don’t know what William Ruto will do to him. We must stop being cowards and tell Kenyans our presidential candidate. If it is not me, then it is Dr Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka as the flag bearer,” he declared.
Gachagua has been leaning towards Kalonzo and has been traversing Mt Kenya and Lower Eastern together on several political trips.
He recently said Mt Kenya will have to sacrifice the presidential and Deputy President seats in the 2027 general elections to ensure President Ruto is not re-elected.
He is currently in Wamunyoro in a political conclave meeting with Mt Kenya residents for 45 days before declaring his next political move.
Before the conclave, he had committed to leading campaigns for the candidate the opposition will settle on in order to make President Ruto a one-term president.
Sudi’s overtures
President Ruto’s confidant, Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi, while in Ukambani, extended an olive branch to Kalonzo to join the government and be allocated a position.
“Tell Kalonzo he is now an elder. Let him join the government for five years and work for the Kamba community,” he said.
Sudi said for several election cycles, the Kamba community has remained in the opposition, and it was time to join the government and be made president in future.
“Kalonzo has wasted the Kambas’ time for a long time. Let him forget about betting and chancing. Let him come here. Even if we are to make him president, we cannot do that when he is outside,” he said.
The reality is that President Ruto will have to face off with opposition talent, and the script is becoming clearer every day regarding the presidential candidate and the running mate.
