Kioni: It is getting late for opposition to name presidential flagbearer
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 5, 2026Jubilee Party deputy leader Jeremiah Kioni has sounded a warning of a time lapse to opposition leaders, urging them to urgently settle on a single presidential candidate under the proposed united alternative government.
Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Kioni, while speaking on the ongoing coalition negotiations, has warned the opposition that time is rapidly running out, and any further delay would be fracturing the opposition’s opportunities ahead of the next general election.
“We need to know who our presidential candidate is today or tomorrow, beyond tomorrow; it’s getting late every other day,” Kioni said.
Time is running out
Kioni had no minced words to pass across; the opposition needed to decide now – not tomorrow – on who would bear its presidential ambitions. He emphasised that indecisiveness may backfire and ultimately divide support bases. Kioni has highlighted the mounting concern among the opposition circles about the absence of a flagbearer to oppose President William Ruto, saying that this would give the current president an easy way to win the next general elections.
In his view, should the process drag on, political camps will be stiffened around individual leaders, making it virtually impossible to bring about a unified front. He said that William Ruto will have long won the elections.
“By the time you are ni huyu, if you again miss it, iwe watu walikuwa wanasema walikuwa na huyu hao wabaki na huyu na hawa wabaki na huyu William ameingia,” Kioni added.
Call for early testing of candidates
The Jubilee deputy leader highlighted the importance of testing the potential candidates as early as possible. This, he argued, would enable the opposition to gauge popular support, build momentum and avoid last-minute confusion, which has in the past undermined coalition efforts.
“And that is why it needs to be tested heavily today; don’t test it too late,” Kioni concluded.
Kioni put the present as a crucial moment in the future of the opposition. When it comes to a presidential nominee, he said, it will mean the difference between the coalition putting a serious foot forward and losing track of its own mistakes.
His warning is putting pressure on opposition leaders to act and act swiftly and clearly as political realignments continue to take shape. The months ahead, he hinted, will be decisive not only in the nomination of a candidate but also in the greater game of power.
DCP’s contrary view
Sentiments from Kioni have come days after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs, Peter Mbae, announced a contrary view that the opposition coalition in Kenya will take longer to announce its presidential candidate, suggesting an extended period of political manoeuvring and consultations until May 2027.
In an exclusive interview with K24 TV, a sister station to People Daily Digital, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Mbae stressed that all eligible leaders will have the chance to participate and agree on who will run for president. He said that there would be no coalition announcement soon, as the process will continue into next year.
“Let all qualified candidates sit at the table and decide who to vie for. I am telling you here and for the record because I know a bit of this system…what we do with our own Riggy-g and our own opposition figures about our coalition…and by the way, don’t be in a hurry; you will not see that coalition this year,” Mbae said.
“You will see people moving around differently; you will see Martha Karua there, Fred Matiang’i there, and Sifuna here. By the time you target Rigathi, Kalonzo comes up; by the time you target Sifuna, he comes up. We are going to see that the whole year until next year. We are going to announce our presidential candidate in May next year, so there is no hurry,” Mbae added.