Speaking during an interview with Radio Generation on Wednesday, Mbae said Opposition parties should be given time to strengthen their individual political structures before entering serious coalition negotiations.
He said the earliest the Opposition could agree on a joint flag bearer would be January 2027, dismissing calls for the various principals to move quickly and settle on one candidate to face President William Ruto.
Mbae argued that the coalition-building process should be allowed to run its course, saying there was no need for Opposition leaders to rush into an arrangement several months before the election.
“I want to tell our people we have a plan, we are not in a hurry. People want us to greet and hug each other, then go where for the remaining months? Let the coalition building take its course,” Mbae said.
The DCP official said several political parties should first emerge and participate in negotiations before a final coalition structure is agreed upon.
“Let parties be five or even six. It is time for Kenyans to vet the people because in the end it is not the people in the boardroom who will choose the person to lead the alternative government lineup,” he said.
Mbae maintained that ordinary voters should have a greater influence on the eventual presidential and running mate combination rather than leaving the decision solely to political leaders negotiating behind closed doors.
“It is the people who will give us the combination they want. It is the people who will say,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing pressure within Opposition ranks for an early agreement on the candidate who will challenge Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is expected to launch his political vehicle in October, with his allies positioning him as a potential presidential candidate under the emerging Linda Mwananchi movement.
Mbae also disclosed that DCP plans to hold its National Delegates Congress in November, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is expected to be endorsed as the party’s presidential candidate.
“October is coming. Edwin Sifuna will announce his party, where he will be the party leader and presidential candidate. DCP will hold its NDC in November, which will endorse Gachagua as its candidate. Then the conversations will begin from there,” Mbae said.
According to Mbae, serious negotiations among the Opposition parties are likely to begin in January 2027, after the various formations have established their political strength.
“People will begin taking serious tea around January. We are going to announce our lineup as the days go by,” he said.
Mbae further dismissed expectations that the joint Opposition candidate could be announced in November or December, telling those demanding an early decision to wait for the coalition-building process to mature.
“Anybody who feels they want it to be announced around November or December, they can switch off, they can move on. We know what we are doing; we are not in a hurry,” he said.
The remarks highlight the continuing uncertainty within the Opposition over the formula and timeline for selecting a joint presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 polls.
