Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua on Monday hosted Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri, in the latest round of talks aimed at building a single opposition front to take on President William Ruto in the August 2027 General Election.

Kalonzo, who had announced the visit on Sunday, arrived with a delegation of Ukambani leaders that included Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior and Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, according to The Standard. Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu, Nairobi MPs Mark Mwenje, Amos Mwago and James Gakuya, and former MPs Kanini Kega and Maina Kamanda were also listed among those present.

Gachagua shared photographs of the visit on social media, welcoming the former Vice President with the words: "Welcome to Wamunyoro, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka. Unity of a purpose is vital!" In a separate post he wrote: "When we come together, great things Must happen."

Neither camp had made the agenda or the outcome of the talks public by Monday afternoon, and no agreement on a joint presidential candidate was announced.

A visit clouded by Malala's claims

The meeting came against the backdrop of a public spat between DCP and Wiper over what the talks were meant to achieve.

Speaking in Kakamega on Saturday, DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala said the party had settled on Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who leads the Linda Mwananchi movement, as its preferred presidential candidate and would use Monday's meeting to ask Kalonzo to back him. "We will also talk to Kalonzo on Monday so that he can back Sifuna," Malala was quoted by Kenyans.co.ke as saying. "Gachagua and I have already agreed to back him for the seat."

According to Capital FM, Malala also said: "In DCP, we have agreed Sifuna is up to the task."

Wiper hit back on Sunday. Party spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru dismissed Malala's remarks and urged the public not to take them seriously. "I urge the media to treat this statement with the contempt it deserves," Njiru said, describing the comments as "the work of a playwright rather than a serious political actor" and accusing Malala of being "intent on driving a divisive knife through the heart of the opposition."

The exchange underlines that the question of who carries the opposition flag remains unresolved, even as its leaders continue to meet.

Second Wamunyoro meeting in a week

Monday's visit came six days after Gachagua hosted Sifuna and a Linda Mwananchi delegation at the same residence on Mashujaa Day, 20 October, shortly after he returned from nearly two months in the United States. Former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo and Linda Mwananchi communications head Pauline Njoroge were among those who attended that meeting.

After the 20 October talks, Gachagua said the two sides had "held a candid and constructive discussion on the liberation of our country and the formation of the Sixth Administration," while Sifuna described the meeting as "a first of many engagements that will foster unity."

Kalonzo has separately been rallying opposition parties under the proposed Ukombozi Coalition, while DCP and Linda Mwananchi have been exploring their own arrangements. Other figures eyeing the presidency on the opposition side include Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Jubilee leader Fred Matiang'i.

Ruto in Kalonzo's backyard

The Nyeri talks coincided with President Ruto's tour of Ukambani, which on Monday took him to Tseikuru in Kitui County, Kalonzo's home area, where he launched road and education projects and used his speeches to court voters in the Wiper leader's stronghold.

For the opposition, the challenge remains turning a growing string of meetings into a formal coalition agreement and a single ticket, a decision Gachagua has said will come soon, though no date has been given.

Photo: The Standard