Mukhisa Kituyi Questions United Opposition Structure as 2027 Approaches
Fresh cracks have emerged within Kenya’s United Opposition just a day after its principals signed a unity agreement, with the coalition’s appointed spokesperson, Mukhisa Kituyi, openly questioning the structure and effectiveness of the political alliance.
Kituyi, who was appointed spokesperson of the United Opposition in September 2025, was expected to articulate the coalition’s position and communicate its agenda to Kenyans as opposition parties prepare for the 2027 General Election.
However, in an exclusive interview with KTN, Kituyi said he could no longer pretend that the opposition had a fully functioning structure.
“It has been very challenging and I cannot pretend it for too long,” Kituyi said.
At the centre of his concerns is the failure to establish a common secretariat that was intended to serve as the administrative and coordinating engine of the United Opposition.
Kituyi revealed that efforts to establish the secretariat had continued for months but eventually stalled, leaving individual parties to operate through their own separate secretariats.
“So you call me the head of a secretariat that does not exist. After months of trying, identifying properties, even putting in materials including furniture from my own self, and then it doesn’t take off. I cannot pretend that I’m heading a secretariat,” he said.
The former Cabinet Minister also questioned what he is expected to communicate as spokesperson when the coalition has not consistently developed joint positions on national issues.
“There are not too many opportunities where we have discussed an issue across the board and said this is our joint position,” Kituyi said.
According to Kituyi, the absence of a functioning central structure has left the opposition alliance struggling to determine who makes decisions, who coordinates its activities and what position can legitimately be presented as the collective position of the coalition.
His remarks expose a deeper challenge for the United Opposition as it seeks to consolidate several political parties and personalities ahead of the 2027 elections.
While opposition leaders have repeatedly emphasized the need to unite against President William Ruto, disagreements over leadership, structures and the eventual presidential candidate continue to complicate the formation of a cohesive political force.
Kituyi acknowledged that there is broad agreement among opposition leaders on the importance of unity but said there is still no consensus on how that unity should be structured.
“There is agreement, unanimous agreement, on the importance of unity, but I don’t think there’s agreement on the building blocks for that unity,” he said.
The developments come as pressure mounts on the United Opposition to clarify its leadership structure and strategy ahead of 2027.
Kituyi also appeared to distance himself from his formal position as spokesperson, saying he effectively holds the title only on paper.
“No, I have just on paper. I’m not saying that I’m having any role as a spokesperson of the opposition because once in a while we do have discussions,” he said.
The latest remarks could deepen questions about the strength of the opposition alliance and whether its unity agreement can translate into an effective political organisation on the ground.
With the 2027 General Election drawing closer, the coalition faces the task of resolving its internal organisational challenges, agreeing on common positions and determining who will lead the opposition into the presidential contest.
For now, Mukhisa Kituyi’s concerns point to a fundamental question facing the United Opposition: Can the coalition build a functioning political structure before it takes on President William Ruto in 2027?
