Former Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament (MP) Kabando wa Kabando has made a radical and controversial statement that the defeat of President William Ruto in the 2027 general election is no longer in question.

Kabando says that the actual struggle has already changed from whether Ruto is going to lose to who is going to be the sixth president of Kenya.

Taking it to his X account on Monday, May 4, 2026, Kabandohas said that the impending election will be a state of transition instead of a competitive race. Kabado has said that the question is not whether President Ruto will be defeated in the 2027 general elections but rather a question of who will replace him.

“The question of the day is not if Rais Ruto will be defeated. That’s now forgone. The pertinent question is who will replace him as the 6th President of the Republic of Kenya, 9th August 2027,” Kabado said.

The opposition puzzle

Kabado’s statement comes at a time when the question of whether the opposition will be united behind one candidate or be divided has been on the rise. The history of electoral processes in Kenya indicates that unity (or lack thereof) is a major determinant in electoral outcomes. With a divided front, even a weakened incumbent will be able to cash in on a divided vote.

The statement from the former lawmaker, who is a proponent of the former deputy president and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) party leader Rigathi Gachagua, can be seen as a criticism of the present regime and a challenge to the leaders of the opposition parties to focus more and unite in a bid to oust President Ruto from power in the next general elections.

The road to 2027

With the 2027 general election of Kenya looming and the countdown clock starting to tick, Kabando’s comments are pouring petrol into an already burning political situation. Whether his forecast is to be met with realisation or not, one thing is clear: the battle lines are going to be drawn early, and the discussion is soon going to be made out to be more of a strategy than speculation.

Ultimately, the voters, rather than political statements, will decide the fate. However, going by the words of Kabando, Kenya might be heading into one of the most hotly contested and consequential elections in Kenya.