President William Ruto is reportedly intensifying a political strategy aimed at fracturing the United Opposition by courting influential leaders into his Kenya Kwanza coalition, a move seen by analysts as critical for his 2027 re-election bid. The latest figures in the President's sights are said to be Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, according to reports from The Star newspaper on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

This strategy appears to be a multi-pronged approach to consolidate power and destabilise any unified challenge in the upcoming polls. The initial phase of this plan was realised in October 2025, when the Kenya African National Union (KANU), led by Gideon Moi, formally joined the Kenya Kwanza administration. The agreement, finalised at Moi's Kabarak residence, was framed as a push to unite political leaders for national development, with President Ruto stating the government needed "more hands and broader goodwill."

A Calculated Political Chess Game

With KANU now part of the ruling coalition, sources close to the presidency indicate the focus has shifted to Musyoka and Wamalwa. The objective is twofold: to weaken the opposition's unity and to isolate other key figures like former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has also declared his presidential ambitions for 2027. The political landscape remains highly fragmented following the contentious 2022 election, and the United Opposition—a coalition of parties including Wiper, DAP-K, and Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP)—has been working to build a formidable front against the government.

President Ruto's allies have reportedly been making overtures to key opposition figures, with some reports suggesting Musyoka could be offered a significant position within the government. DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa has publicly acknowledged the strategic importance of Musyoka, stating in October 2025 that if Kalonzo were to join Ruto, it would be "game over—two terms automatically" for the President. Wamalwa himself has declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2027, positioning himself as a challenger to the current administration.

Opposition's Unity Tested

The United Opposition faces a significant test of its cohesion amidst these political manoeuvres. The coalition, which also includes leaders like Martha Karua, has been holding meetings to solidify its structure and strategy. However, internal power dynamics and the presidential ambitions of multiple leaders, including Gachagua and Musyoka, present potential fault lines that President Ruto's strategy could exploit. Gachagua's allies have previously hinted at backing Musyoka as the coalition's flagbearer, seeing him as the best candidate to defeat Ruto.

Despite the external pressure, opposition leaders have publicly projected a united front. On November 3, 2025, leaders including Musyoka, Wamalwa, and Gachagua announced they would field joint candidates in upcoming by-elections to avoid splitting their vote, framing it as a rehearsal for the 2027 contest. They have consistently maintained their goal is to make President Ruto a one-term president, dismissing his administration's policies as failures.

The political realignments are not confined to the opposition. Within Ruto's own camp, the impeachment of former Deputy President Gachagua in October 2024 has created new dynamics. Gachagua has since become a vocal critic of the government and is actively building his own political vehicle, the DCP, positioning himself as a major challenger in 2027.

As the 2027 election cycle draws closer, President Ruto's strategy of co-opting key opposition figures will be a central theme. The success of this approach could significantly reshape Kenya's political landscape, determining whether the opposition can maintain a united front or succumbs to internal divisions and external pressures. The responses of Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa in the coming months will be critical in shaping the political contest to come.