Jimi Wanjigi: Tribal coalitions won’t defeat Ruto

Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi has called on Kenya's opposition parties to move beyond tribal alliances and develop a political coalition focused on the needs of ordinary Kenyans for the 2027 General Election. During a TV interview on September 9, 2026, Wanjigi questioned the value of joining traditional tribal coalitions, stating that these alliances have historically benefited only a few leaders.

He challenged opposition principals, who have recently declared a unity pact for selecting a presidential candidate, to build a coalition based on policy and economic concerns rather than ethnicity. Wanjigi pointed to past constitutional reform movements as an example of Kenyans uniting around a common national agenda. He also criticized opposition leaders, such as Kalonzo Musyoka, for their reliance on tribal alliances, arguing that this structure prevents them from defeating President William Ruto.

Wanjigi emphasized the need for an alliance focused on addressing economic issues like debt, taxation, unemployment, and the cost of living, rather than merely opposing Ruto's succession.