10/06/2026
*IS KALONZO A STATE HOUSE PROJECT?*
*Is the Opposition Making the Kamala Harris Mistake?*
*Why the Rush to Crown Kalonzo Before the Race Has Even Begun?*Is this Kasongo's Strategy?*
*A recent social media post by Dennis Itumbi has reignited a debate that has been quietly building within opposition circles.*
The post appeared to endorse a political formation in which Kalonzo Musyoka would lead the opposition ticket, deputized by Edwin Sifuna. It is a narrative that has gained remarkable traction in recent months. Political commentators, online influencers, and sections of the opposition establishment increasingly speak as though a Kalonzo-Sifuna ticket is already settled.
*But there is a question that nobody seems willing to ask:*
*Why the rush?*
What happened to "Skiza Ground"?
What happened to allowing the people to determine who should carry the opposition flag?
If Kalonzo Musyoka is truly the strongest opposition candidate, then surely he has nothing to fear from a competitive selection process. Let him campaign in Kisumu, Kakamega, Turkana, Mombasa, Nairobi, Meru, and Gatundu. Let him test his appeal across the country and prove that he is indeed the candidate best positioned to defeat President William Ruto.
*Democracy is strongest when leaders emerge through competition, not coronation.*
Yet what Kenyans are increasingly witnessing is an attempt to settle the opposition ticket long before the political contest has fully developed.
That strategy may carry significant risks.
The Kamala Harris Lesson
The opposition should study what happened in the United States during the 2024 presidential election.
Following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, much of the Democratic establishment quickly consolidated behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Many party leaders believed that her experience, national profile, and position within the administration made her the obvious choice to face Donald Trump.
The party largely avoided a competitive primary process.
The assumption was that defeating Trump would naturally unite voters behind the chosen candidate.
That assumption proved costly.
Trump won the election, including key battleground states, demonstrating that party establishments cannot simply assume voters will rally behind a candidate because they are viewed as the safest choice.
The lesson is not about Kamala Harris herself.
The lesson is about process.
Political establishments often mistake internal consensus for public enthusiasm.
They assume that because elites have settled on a candidate, voters will automatically follow.
History repeatedly shows otherwise.
The Danger of the "Anyone But Ruto" Strategy
Many opposition supporters appear convinced that the country is so frustrated with President Ruto that almost any opposition candidate can defeat him.
That assumption is dangerous.
Presidential elections are not won simply because voters dislike the incumbent.
They are won because voters are inspired by an alternative.
The opposition cannot afford to assume that anti-Ruto sentiment alone will carry them to victory.
It must offer a candidate who can energize young voters, attract undecided voters, expand support beyond traditional strongholds, and build a genuinely national coalition.
That candidate should emerge through competition, not appointment.
*Why Ruto Benefits from an Early Kalonzo Coronation*
An early declaration of Kalonzo as the opposition flagbearer may actually benefit President Ruto more than it benefits the opposition.
Once the opposition settles on a ticket prematurely, the ruling party gains clarity.
It can immediately begin designing its strategy around a known opponent.
It can identify strengths and weaknesses.
It can determine which regions require additional investment.
It can tailor its messaging and coalition-building efforts accordingly.
Most importantly, it gains time.
Politics is often a game of adaptation.
The earlier your opponent reveals their hand, the more time you have to prepare your response.
That is why many successful political movements delay final decisions until they have fully assessed the political environment.
*The Running Mate Problem*
The rush to place Edwin Sifuna in the deputy position raises another important question.
Why is Sifuna almost always discussed as a running mate rather than a contender?
Sifuna is one of the opposition's most visible communicators.
He has demonstrated an ability to connect with younger voters.
He commands national media attention.
He has emerged as one of the most recognizable opposition figures outside traditional political hierarchies.
*Shouldn't such a leader be allowed to compete?*
Why should his political ceiling be determined before the race even begins?
A truly democratic process would allow all serious contenders to test their support and let voters decide who stands the best chance of defeating President Ruto.
*Let the Ground Speak*
The opposition's greatest strength has always been its claim to represent democratic values.
That commitment should extend to how it selects its presidential candidate.
The answer is not to crown anyone prematurely.
The answer is to let the ground speak.
Let Kalonzo compete.
Let Sifuna compete.
Let other opposition leaders compete.
Let Kenyans evaluate their vision, leadership, appeal, and ability to build a national coalition.
Only then can the opposition confidently say it has chosen its strongest candidate.
Because if the objective is to defeat President Ruto, then the opposition cannot afford to choose its candidate based on assumptions.
It must choose its candidate based on evidence.
And the only way to gather that evidence is through an open, competitive process that allows the people—not political elites—to decide.
The opposition should remember a simple truth:
Presidents are elected by voters, not by political establishments.
And any strategy that forgets that lesson risks repeating mistakes that others have already made.
