Justin Muturi accuses opposition of cowardice over delay in naming of 2027 Presidential flag bearer

NAIROBI, 6 July 2026,

Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has hit out at the United Opposition over what he termed unnecessary delays in naming its presidential flag bearer for the 2027 General Election, saying the continued hesitation amounts to "cowardice" rather than strategy.

Muturi, who was recently endorsed as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate during the party’s National Delegates Congress at Ufungamano House, made the remarks in comments aired on KTN and widely shared online today.

In the broadcast captured under the headline “SHINIKIZO NDANI YA UPINZANI,” translated as “Pressure Within the Opposition,” Muturi argued that by this time, the opposition should have already settled on who will face President William Ruto in 2027.

According to Muturi, dragging the process of picking a joint candidate serves no political purpose and instead exposes disunity.

“Continued delay by the Opposition in naming its flagbearer is a sign of cowardice. It cannot be a strategy at all,” he stated.

The former National Assembly Speaker insisted that waiting until the last minute to unveil a candidate is a mistake the opposition cannot afford to repeat. He referenced the 2002 elections when KANU’s late decision on a successor led to fractures that handed victory to NARC.

Muturi’s comments come at a time when the United Opposition — comprising DP, Wiper, DCP, PLP, Jubilee and DAP-K — has repeatedly pledged to present one candidate, but has not yet agreed on who that will be.

Muturi has previously revealed that the coalition’s technical team prepared an initial draft on how to select a flag bearer and submitted it to the principals four months ago. Two additional proposals are expected to be tabled during an upcoming retreat.

“By now the Opposition ought to be having a flagbearer,” he said, urging the principals to move with speed and put the interests of Kenyans above personal ambition.

His remarks appear to be aimed at increasing pressure on other opposition leaders, including Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, DCP’s Rigathi Gachagua, PLP’s Martha Karua, and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, all of whom were present when Muturi was endorsed as DP’s flag-bearer.

The timing of Muturi’s criticism has sparked debate online, with some questioning whether the remarks were a response to recent statements by Gachagua. Others wondered if Kalonzo was using Muturi to push back on comments made by the former Deputy President.

Muturi himself has downplayed suggestions of division, saying those attempting to sow discord within the opposition are “enemies of the people.” At the DP NDC, he warned:

“They were even looking for a person to compete with me in DP in the NDC so that I do not become the flagbearer... whoever is bought by detractors to sow disunity amongst us is the enemy of the people.”

Despite the tough talk, United Opposition leaders have maintained a public front of unity. At the same NDC, Kalonzo assured Kenyans the coalition would remain together as the only way to defeat Ruto. Karua said their one purpose was to “bring good leadership and liberate Kenya.” Matiang’i said anyone betting on the opposition falling apart “will lose,” while Gachagua said they would work together to make Ruto a one-term president.

Muturi was unanimously confirmed as the DP party leader and its presidential candidate during the meeting. He also condemned what he called a harsh and undeniable crisis under the current administration.

With just under two years to the 2027 elections, political analysts say naming a candidate early gives the opposition time to build structures, raise funds, and sell a unified agenda to voters. A delayed decision, they argue, allows Kenya Kwanza to frame the narrative and exploit any visible cracks.

Muturi’s position is that early clarity will also help manage expectations among supporters and avoid the kind of last-minute fallout that has undone opposition coalitions in the past.

“The people sitting here and I will definitely unite and give Kenya one presidential candidate. We must put the welfare of the Kenyan people above individual ambition,” he said at Ufungamano.

The coalition’s technical team is expected to present more options to the principals soon. Whether Muturi’s public pressure will hasten that process remains to be seen.

For now, the DP leader has made his stance clear: delaying the flag bearer decision is not clever politics; it is avoidance.

As pressure builds within the opposition, all eyes will be on the next principals’ meeting to see if the coalition can turn pledges of unity into a concrete name to take on President Ruto in 2027.