Matiang’i joins Gachagua as opposition leaders attend church service in Njabini
By Mabonga Makhanu, February 8, 2026United opposition principals are currently in Njabini, Nyandarua County, on Sunday, February 8, 2026, for a church service.
The principals are led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, together with the recently endorsed presidential candidate for the Jubilee Party, Fred Matiang’i, and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi.
They are also set to address a gathering in Njabini town after the church service.
This comes days after Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka urged Democracy for Citizens (DCP) leader Gachagua to avoid “killing the opposition dream” and to work in harmony with other united opposition principals.
Onyonka warned that if Gachagua fails to do so, President William Ruto, who is their main challenger in 2027, will have them “for breakfast”.
“Please, Mheshimiwa Gachagua, don’t kill our dream. Keep yourselves together. Carry Matiang’i with you, carry Martha Karua with you, and carry Justin Muturi with you. We are waiting for you to tell us where we are going, because if all of you do not do that, you will be hanged separately by William Ruto as we watch from outside the tent,” Onyonka stated.
Other leaders, such as PLP leader Martha Karua and Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, were missing, while Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka was also absent following his tour of the United States, during which he engaged with Kenyans living in the diaspora to rally support for his 2027 bid.
United Opposition’s 2027 preparedness
This comes at a time when the United Opposition, which has now been rebranded as the United Alternative Government by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, is putting its heads together to strategise for the 2027 general election.
In the recent past, there have been evident internal conflicts within the opposition, where Gachagua appeared to be in wrangles with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
However, tensions seem to have eased, and the two now appear to be working together.
United Opposition’s flagbearer
The United Opposition is set to hold a one- or two-day retreat starting on February 12, 2026, to deliberate on the coalition’s name and agree on the matrix they will use to choose their presidential flagbearer.
Despite the party principals each harbouring individual presidential ambitions and having been cleared and endorsed by their respective parties, with the latest being Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi, who was cleared by his party to contest for the presidency.
They have all agreed that when the right time comes, they will shelve their individual aspirations and rally behind the chosen presidential candidate to face President William Ruto.
However, tensions seem to have eased, and the two now appear to be working together.
The opposition principals, each harbouring individual presidential ambitions and having been cleared and endorsed by their respective parties, with the latest being Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi, who was cleared by his party to contest for the presidency.
They have all agreed that when the right time comes, they will shelve their individual aspirations and rally behind the chosen presidential candidate to face President William Ruto.