Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang'i has accused DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua of arrogance that could tear apart the opposition, in the sharpest public exchange yet between two of the men hoping to face President William Ruto in 2027.

Speaking on NTV on Sunday night, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary was responding to Gachagua's recent claim that he, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Linda Mwananchi Movement leader Edwin Sifuna were enough to form the next government, with others free to join them.

"That majoritarian arrogance and that particular pride is precisely what is going to split the opposition," Matiang'i said, according to Citizen Digital and The Eastleigh Voice.

'Not a matter of ethnic balkanisation'

Matiang'i rejected the idea of choosing a joint candidate by counting the voting strength of communities, saying the race should be a contest of ideas, track records and competence. He recalled the 2007 post-election crisis as a warning against politics built on arrogance.

He said he would back anyone picked through "an inclusive, acceptable and respectful process", but objected to what he described as two or three people "frogmarching" everyone else to a preferred candidate.

"When you wake up and tell me anybody can replace Ruto, it means the problems we have with Ruto are that we are not sitting in that seat ourselves," he said.

A warning from Brazil

Matiang'i said unity alone does not guarantee victory, pointing to a recent election in Brazil where a joint opposition candidate lost to the incumbent. At the same time, he argued that a recent opinion survey showed Ruto's only clear path to re-election is a divided opposition.

He also outlined parts of his own platform, which he calls "one term plus positive change":

  • Scrapping the Housing Levy
  • A firm crackdown on corruption and political violence, saying there would be no "goonism" under his watch
  • An end to the arrest and handover of foreign nationals, citing the case of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye
  • No foreign funding for his campaign

Fragile front

The remarks add to strains in the opposition, which has yet to agree on when and how to name a flagbearer. Gachagua and Kalonzo have pushed the decision later, while Sifuna's supporters heckled Kalonzo at the launch of Linda Mwananchi's headquarters last Friday.

Gachagua had not publicly responded to Matiang'i at the time the reports were published. In a separate interview on Sunday, he said he would move to the United States if Ruto wins a second term.

Photos: Citizen Digital; The Star (handout). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.