Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has cautioned the opposition against repeating past mistakes in their quest to field a joint presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kioni, a close ally of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, argued that the choices being made within the opposition risk handing President William Ruto an easy path to a second term.

Speaking during an interview on Spice FM on Monday, Kioni criticised the idea of leaving the decision of choosing a flag bearer to a few individuals, as is the case in the opposition, where the leaders appear to be undecided on the way forward. 

He recalled how a similar approach in the 2022 polls saw Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition select a candidate without broad consultation, which, in his view, divided voters and weakened the coalition, thereby denying Raila Odinga and Martha Karua the chance to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta at State House. 

''In this united opposition, some want six people to decide the flag bearer. I disagree. That will take us back to the same place where we were with Azimio, where, in the last election, they chose for themselves without consulting Kenyans. Repeating that mistake will only please Ruto in State House,'' Kioni remarked.

Mt Kenya President

He further warned that presenting a candidate from the Mt. Kenya region would be politically costly for the opposition. 

According to him, such a move would strengthen Ruto’s influence in the vote-rich region while deepening divisions that could work in his favour.

''If we make the mistake of fielding a candidate from Mt Kenya, we play straight into Ruto’s hands. That is what is making Gachagua very uncomfortable. Splitting that block, as Ruto is already doing, gives him a clear path to another 15 years in State House,'' he said.

Jubilee Matiang'i Ticket

The developments come at a time when there seems to be a crack within the United Opposition on who will be its flagbearer in the next elections.

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This has seen forces such as former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i seek other alternatives, where he attended the Jubilee Party National Delegates Congress on Friday last week. According to sources, he is one of the avourites to carry the party's presidential ticket. 

Former president Uhuru, while addressing the NDC, noted that the Jubilee party would field candidates for all elective positions. 

He added that the party would also embark on a nationwide recruitment drive to strengthen its grassroots bases.

Meanwhile, according to Kioni, Matiang'i has been unfairly treated in the opposition and therefore, Jubilee decided to stand with him.