Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has called for the United Opposition to revive the formula used by the 2007 Pentagon to select its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an event in his constituency on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Amisi, who was recently appointed leader of the People’s Renaissance Party, opposed the idea of relying on closed-door negotiations to determine the opposition’s presidential flag bearer.
He argued that a boardroom agreement could leave some candidates and their supporters dissatisfied, potentially weakening the opposition’s efforts to present a united challenge to President William Ruto.
Amisi Proposes Delegates’ Vote
Amisi proposed convening opposition leaders, delegates and supporters at a major stadium in Nairobi to determine the presidential candidate through a vote.
He referred to the 2007 Pentagon arrangement, when opposition presidential hopefuls gathered at Kasarani and participated in a process to determine who would lead the coalition into the General Election.
The late Raila Odinga emerged as the winner, with former Vice President Musalia Mudavadi finishing second and Ruto placing third.
Amisi suggested that a similar process could be organised in 2027, proposing Talanta Stadium as the venue for the exercise.
Opposition Divided Over Selection Formula
According to Amisi, allowing supporters to participate directly in selecting the flag bearer would give the various candidates greater confidence in the outcome.
He warned that an agreement reached through negotiations could prompt some aspirants or their supporters to abandon the coalition if they felt excluded from the decision-making process.
The proposal comes amid continued discussions among opposition leaders over how to settle on a single presidential candidate capable of challenging Ruto in the 2027 election.
Scientific Polling Also Under Consideration
While some opposition figures have favoured negotiations, other leaders have backed a scientific polling model to determine the coalition’s presidential candidate.
Under the proposed system, an internal opinion poll would be conducted among opposition supporters, with the candidate receiving the highest support becoming the presidential flag bearer.
The second-placed candidate would be considered for the running mate position, while the third and fourth candidates would be considered for the positions of Speaker of the National Assembly and Speaker of the Senate respectively.
The scientific polling proposal has attracted support from several United Opposition principals, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, while Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has appeared less receptive to the approach.
Opposition principals continue to hold consultations as they seek a selection formula that can command broad support and prevent divisions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
