Ruiru MP aspirant urges Opposition to mobilise support

By Lawrence Ongaro

A Ruiru parliamentary aspirant has urged Opposition leaders to intensify grassroots mobilisation and build a united political front ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying victory against President William Ruto will depend on voter numbers rather than political rhetoric.

Sammy Onyango Engin said Opposition leaders must move beyond social media campaigns, political slogans and high-profile meetings to establish strong grassroots networks capable of delivering votes across the country.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, Engin declared his support for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s call for Opposition unity, saying defeating the Kenya Kwanza administration would require sustained engagement with voters at village, constituency and county levels.

He argued that political leaders should demonstrate their electoral strength through tangible grassroots support rather than rely on party ownership or individual ambitions to secure influential positions in Opposition arrangements.

“Victory over the current administration cannot be assumed, nor can it be delivered through social media campaigns, optics or boardroom conferences in five-star hotels,” Engin said.

Calls for strategic Opposition mobilisation

He said recent by-elections had demonstrated that winning elections required effective voter mobilisation, adding that the selection of Opposition flag-bearers should be guided by proven electoral support and political organisation.

Engin also called on Mt Kenya leaders and residents to consolidate their voting bloc, arguing that unity across ethnic, regional and political affiliations would strengthen their influence in the 2027 elections.

He maintained that the Opposition should complement regional mobilisation with a national agenda addressing economic and social challenges affecting Kenyans.

These include high taxation, stagnant wages, rising fuel and food prices, heavy deductions from workers’ salaries and challenges facing public healthcare.

He also cited enforced disappearances, abductions and extra-judicial killings as human rights concerns requiring a united national response.

On development, Engin called for equitable allocation of resources, arguing that selective distribution of projects disadvantages communities regardless of their political affiliations.

He urged Opposition leaders and other democratic forces to put aside personal ambitions and concentrate on building a formidable political movement capable of challenging the ruling administration.

“The time for half-measures and superficial coalitions is over,” he said, calling for dedicated grassroots organisation and coordinated efforts to mobilise voters across the country.