Wiper Patriotic Front leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (centre) speaking during a during a press briefing on Monday, September 21, 2026.
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya — Wiper Patriotic Front leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has announced the rebranding of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition as the Ukombozi Alliance, signalling a fresh push to bring opposition parties together ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo made the announcement on Monday, September 21, 2026, during a press briefing in which he outlined plans to reorganise the coalition, strengthen cooperation among opposition parties and prepare for the next election.
He said the coalition would move quickly to implement the changes arising from the rebranding, urging Kenyans to take note of the new political direction.
“We want the country to note we are on the move,” Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader also said former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who chairs the coalition, would hold a Jubilee Party meeting on Tuesday to discuss important decisions. The outcome, he added, would be communicated to the Ukombozi Alliance to ensure that coalition partners moved forward together.
“After that, we will then be making arrangements for the official handover of the chairmanship of the coalition political party,” Kalonzo said.
The announcement comes as opposition leaders continue consultations on how to build a broader political alliance before the 2027 polls. During the briefing, Kalonzo welcomed representatives of several political groups, including the United Green Movement Party, Linda Mwananchi and Umoja na Maendeleo.
He said the coalition was entering a critical period, with 222 days remaining before the next election, and needed to consolidate its structures and strengthen coordination among its members.
Kalonzo also used the briefing to comment on the High Court ruling that nullified the Government’s sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom to Vodacom South Africa. He called on the National Treasury to comply with the judgment, while noting that he had not received confirmation on whether the Government had filed an appeal.
The Wiper leader further criticised President William Ruto’s remarks about former President Uhuru Kenyatta, arguing that the 2027 political contest should not be presented as a personal battle between the two former leaders.
According to Kalonzo, the contest would instead involve President Ruto, opposition leaders and the Kenyan people. He also rejected the description of Uhuru Kenyatta as a rebel leader, saying such characterisation undermined the country’s multiparty democratic system.
Kalonzo maintained that Uhuru Kenyatta could continue participating in political activities, despite the legal questions surrounding the holding of formal leadership positions in political parties by retired presidents.
“We will be the ones responding to William Ruto, not Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.
Speaking at the same briefing, senior counsel and Linda Mwananchi official James Orengo called for greater unity among opposition parties. He said the ongoing consultations should result in a single, focused political movement capable of pursuing a common objective.
Orengo compared the opposition to a guided missile, saying its target and destination must be clear if it is to achieve its intended outcome.
“The opposition in Kenya must be like a guided missile, where the target is set, the destination is set, the speed of that missile is set, and all that remains is to hit the target,” he said.
He praised the resilience of the leaders involved in the consultations and expressed hope that the process would produce a united opposition. Orengo also criticised President Ruto’s remarks about Uhuru Kenyatta and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying the opposition would respond to what he described as offensive statements.
The senator urged opposition leaders to remain focused on building the coalition, stressing the importance of unity as the country approaches the next general election.
He also repeated the slogan, “One term, one team and one coalition,” which Kalonzo endorsed during his closing remarks.
The announcement of the Ukombozi Alliance adds a new phase to the opposition’s ongoing efforts to reorganise its political structures and bring together different parties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
