Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has said that at the right time, the Linda Mwananchi faction will work together with the United Opposition to craft a joint lineup that will challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking to the media while in Trans Nzoia County on Friday, May 8, 2026, the first-term governor dismissed claims that the opposition is divided, insisting that it remains united and that its cohesion will become evident in due course.

Natembeya further urged opposition leaders not to be preoccupied with political positions, but instead to remain focused on the needs of Kenyans and the aspirations of ordinary citizens.

“There are no factions within the United Opposition. When the storm in the ODM party comes to a stop, we in the United Opposition and the Linda Mwananchi will sit down to agree on the way forward and craft a plan on how we will remove Ruto from power,” he said.

He added that there is no problem with the two opposition camps working together, noting that they share a common ideology centred on what he described as “delivering the country from the current regime”.

This comes at a time when the possibility of the two camps uniting ahead of 2027 appears to be a matter of when, not if. Most principals within the Linda Mwananchi formation, which is predominantly made up of politicians regarded as rebels within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have also expressed willingness to partner with the Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka-led formation.

Nairobi senator who also doubles as Linda Mwananchi team leader, Edwin Sifuna, has stated that there is a common understanding among Kenyans that, for them to win the 2027 general election, all camps that believe Ruto should serve only one-term must approach the polls as a united front.

He referenced the 2022 general election, where Ruto won by a narrow margin of about 200,000 votes, saying he does not want a repeat in 2027 due to opposition disunity.

He also stated that he does not want to be part of a vote-splitting arrangement that has cost the opposition in the past.

The outspoken Nairobi Senator further noted that their paths with the United Opposition will eventually intersect, allowing them to work together as a joint force. He encouraged the Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka-led camp to continue with their efforts, as his team does the same.

Babu’s view

Babu Owino, the Embakasi East MP, on his part, has also stated that the Linda Mwananchi team is willing to partner with the united opposition since they are all like-minded.

“Elections in Kenya are won through coalitions. We have no problem with a united opposition; they are like-minded individuals. We do not have a problem when we come together for the best interests of the ordinary mwananchi,” Babu said.

Gachagua’s perspective

Meanwhile, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has also urged the Sifuna team to join their camp.

He stated that, just like the United Opposition principals who harbour presidential ambitions, if the Linda Mwananchi team has a preferred candidate, his side would be willing to shelve their ambitions and support that candidate for the presidency.

Former minister and Jubilee cabinet secretary Raphael Tuju has also come out to add his voice to this discussion without mincing his words, saying that if the two camps do not merge ahead of next year’s polls, then it will be a stupid move.