Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has warned his fellow United Opposition leaders against making the removal of President William Ruto their primary focus ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Jubilee deputy party leader stated that the opposition should focus on delivering real change for Kenyans rather than concentrating solely on removing Ruto from office.

Matiang’i argued that opposition leaders could spend countless sleepless nights crafting strategies on how to replace Ruto, only to continue with the same poor governance practices that they accuse the current administration of perpetuating.

“No, no, that’s not one. That’s not even our main goal. In fact, it’s not my main goal. What you are describing is a very simplistic situation. You are simply saying that all we are spending sleepless nights doing is figuring out how to replace Ruto, only for us to tell him to stand up, take his seat, and then continue looting and mismanaging the country the way he is doing now,” he said.

He emphasized that what should matter most is the kind of leadership they intend to offer after taking power.

According to Matiang’i, within just a few months of a new government taking office, Kenyans and visitors alike should be able to see a noticeable difference from the current administration through tangible improvements and better governance.

“That is not the way,” he added. “The goal is to bring about real change — change that people can actually feel. If I am elected president, I would want people to come to Kenya 90 days, or three months later, and say, ‘Wow, an election took place, and you can already see the difference.'”

Gachagua’s stance

His remarks appear to contradict the position taken by some of his fellow opposition leaders, particularly former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has consistently maintained that removing Ruto from office should be the opposition’s primary agenda.

Gachagua has previously argued that once Ruto leaves office, nearly 80 percent of Kenya’s problems will have been resolved.

The former deputy president has further stated that after removing Ruto from power, opposition leaders can then sit down and craft a roadmap on how they intend to govern the country and reverse what they consider to be harmful policies introduced during Ruto’s tenure.

A similar position has been echoed by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who has said that removing the president from power is the bare minimum. However, Kalonzo has also revealed that teams within the opposition are already working behind the scenes to formulate policies and a manifesto that will eventually be presented to Kenyans.

Mukhisa’s stance

Former Cabinet Minister and former UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi has offered a different perspective. According to Kituyi, Kenyans often vote against something rather than for a particular agenda or policy platform.

In his assessment, the prevailing mood in the country suggests that many voters simply want to vote Ruto out of office, and they are likely to support whichever candidate emerges as the strongest challenger.

Kituyi cited previous elections to support his argument, noting that in 2013, many voters were influenced by issues surrounding the International Criminal Court (ICC); in 2007, many were voting against President Mwai Kibaki; and in 2002, the dominant sentiment was opposition to former President Daniel arap Moi’s continued influence. He argued that the 2027 election may not be much different.

Wanjigi’s argument

Safina Party leader and presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi has also differed with the opposition’s approach, echoing Matiang’i’s concerns about making Ruto’s removal the sole campaign agenda.

Wanjigi has distanced himself from the popular ‘Wantam’ and ‘Tutam’ slogans, arguing that they offer little help to Kenyans struggling with the high cost of living and other pressing challenges.

He questioned what would happen after the much-talked-about “Wantam” agenda is achieved, asking, “Wantam, then what?” According to Wanjigi, removing Ruto from office alone is not enough; what Kenyans need is a clear vision and a concrete plan that will deliver meaningful change and improve their lives.