Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has brought Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i and Siaya Governor James Orengo on board to strengthen the opposition’s push for a united front ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo appointed Matiang’i as chairman of the Ukombozi Alliance Council, with Orengo taking up the position of co-chair.
The announcement was made on Thursday when Kalonzo arrived at Kisumu International Airport for a tour of Migori and Homa Bay counties. He was accompanied by Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa and senior Wiper officials, among them Deputy Party Leader Designate Mohammed Ali and party chairman Jamleck Kamau.
The appointments are seen as part of growing efforts by opposition leaders to bring together their political formations and establish a common platform to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 polls.
Addressing concerns over divisions within the opposition, Kalonzo urged Kenyans to remain confident in the ongoing negotiations, saying plans for a broader political alliance were taking shape.
He said the selection of Matiang’i and Orengo reflected the need to have experienced leaders at the helm of the council as the opposition prepares to engage voters.
Kalonzo described the Ukombozi Alliance as a movement aimed at rescuing the country from what he termed a predatory regime, adding that opposition leaders were committed to presenting Kenyans with a strong political alternative.
He defended the appointments by pointing to the two leaders’ records in public service and their roles in the country’s democratic journey.
Matiang’i previously served in several Cabinet positions during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, including the ICT, Education and Interior dockets, before assuming leadership of the Jubilee Party.
Orengo, a Senior Counsel and veteran opposition politician, has spent decades participating in the struggle for multiparty democracy and constitutional reforms.
