Mukhisa Kituyi reveals why is difficult working with opposition leaders as their spokesman

Former United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi has spoken about the difficulties he faces working as the spokesperson for the United Opposition. In an interview aired on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Kituyi expressed his frustration with the lack of a functional structure within the opposition coalition.

He questioned the effectiveness of his role, stating that efforts to establish a common secretariat had not been successful. Kituyi had expected the secretariat to serve as the backbone of the opposition's unity and provide a platform for developing and communicating common positions to the public. However, he admitted that these efforts had not yielded the desired results.

Instead, individual political parties continued to operate through their own separate secretariats. This absence of a central administrative structure made it challenging for Kituyi to fulfill his duties effectively. Furthermore, Kituyi noted that the opposition parties increasingly issued separate statements, rather than communicating as a unified political force.

He pointed out that for a spokesperson to communicate a single position to the public, there must first be consensus among the parties involved. While the opposition parties agreed on the importance of unity, there was no consensus on the structures and mechanisms required to achieve that unity. Kituyi also appeared to distance himself from the role of opposition spokesperson, saying his position largely exists on paper.

He emphasized that the challenge facing the United Opposition extends beyond individual personalities and their competing ambitions. Kituyi maintained that once the opposition becomes a truly united political force, the spokesperson's role would become significantly easier. His comments raise questions about the structure, decision-making mechanisms, and leadership of the United Opposition as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.