President William Ruto and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna have stepped up their political exchanges, with their latest confrontation bringing the emerging 2027 contest into sharper focus.
Ruto has challenged opposition leaders to explain what they would do differently if elected, questioning whether their growing attacks on his administration amount to a coherent political programme.
Sifuna has responded by saying the opposition's immediate priority is to remove Ruto from power and restore what he describes as meritocracy in government.
The exchange has added to a series of increasingly pointed statements between the President and the senator as political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election gathers pace.
Sifuna hit back after Ruto questioned the opposition's agenda, saying its programme included restoring meritocracy and removing the President from office.
Sifuna has also adopted increasingly combative language when responding to Ruto.
“Akiniita fala, mimi namwita mshenzi. Akiniheshimu, mimi namheshimu. Akinidharau, mimi namdharau,” Sifuna said in remarks reported by Tuna News.
Ruto, meanwhile, has continued to challenge the opposition to present Kenyans with an alternative policy programme rather than concentrating on criticism of his administration.
The President's argument has been that political opponents should explain how they would govern and what they would do differently from his administration.
The exchanges have coincided with efforts by opposition leaders to organise themselves ahead of 2027.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has emerged as one of the leading figures in those discussions and has said opposition leaders should use political arithmetic to determine who should lead a joint ticket against Ruto.
Gachagua recently said he would be willing to deputise Sifuna if calculations showed that the Nairobi senator was the candidate most capable of defeating Ruto.
“If we do our arithmetic and find that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna will send President William Ruto home early, so be it,” Gachagua said, according to The Star.
Gachagua also named himself, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Sifuna among politicians who could potentially lead an opposition ticket.
“Even Sifuna can deputise me. Sifuna can also deputise Kalonzo Musyoka. Kalonzo can also deputise Sifuna,” he said.
The comments have placed Sifuna's presidential ambitions within the broader discussions over whether the opposition can agree on a single candidate.
Other opposition leaders have also publicly backed Sifuna's presidential bid.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said plans were underway to establish a new political party that would sponsor Sifuna in the 2027 presidential race, according to the Kenya News Agency.
“We are going to create a new party and Sifuna will be its presidential candidate,” Osotsi said.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka has also called on opposition figures including Gachagua, Kalonzo, Fred Matiang'i, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa to support Sifuna, arguing that he would be capable of defeating Ruto.
The developments have added another layer to an opposition field that includes several politicians with presidential ambitions.
Gachagua, Kalonzo and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i have all been mentioned in discussions about the opposition's possible presidential ticket, while Sifuna has increasingly positioned himself as a potential candidate.
On the government side, Ruto has continued to campaign on his administration's record while challenging his opponents to provide a clear alternative.
The President's attacks on the opposition have increasingly drawn responses from Sifuna, who has become one of the most vocal critics of the administration.
