Gachagua, Kalonzo appoint Mukhisa Kituyi as united opposition spokesperson

By Newsflash Repoter

The United Opposition has appointed former UN diplomat and seasoned politician Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi as its official spokesperson, in a move aimed at strengthening the coalition’s communication strategy and political visibility.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, September 3, through statements shared by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Democratic Movement party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

“The United Opposition has appointed Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi as the spokesperson and Head of the Opposition Secretariat,” Gachagua confirmed in his statement.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua also took to their social media pages to endorse the appointment, terming Kituyi an experienced leader capable of articulating the coalition’s agenda.

Kituyi’s rich political and international profile

Born in Bungoma County in 1956, Kituyi’s political career spans over three decades. He studied political science and international relations at the University of Nairobi and Makerere University, before earning a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Bergen in Norway in 1989.

Kituyi was first elected Kimilili MP in 1992 and successfully defended his seat twice. He served as Minister of Trade and Industry between 2002 and 2007 under the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, where he was credited with steering trade reforms and regional economic integration.

Internationally, he is best known for his tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a position he held for eight years between 2013 and 2021. During this time, he was a leading voice on global trade, investment, and sustainable development.

He also chaired the COMESA Council of Ministers and the African Trade Ministers’ Council, while serving as part of a regional experts’ team advising East African Community heads of state between 2008 and 2012.

Return to Kenya’s opposition politics

Before his UN posting, Kituyi headed the Kenya Institute of Governance and briefly joined the 2022 presidential race before withdrawing to support Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja coalition.

His return to frontline politics as the face and voice of the United Opposition is seen as a strategic move to boost credibility, especially as the coalition positions itself against President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.

Analysts say his blend of international stature and domestic political experience makes him a strong asset for the opposition camp.

Opposition unity drive

The United Opposition brings together several political outfits, including Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party, Kalonzo’s Wiper Democratic Movement, and Karua’s People’s Liberation Party, among others.

The coalition has pledged to provide a united front in scrutinizing government policy and offering alternative solutions on governance, economic management, and constitutional reforms.

Kituyi is now expected to coordinate opposition messaging, unify communication channels, and lead policy articulation as the coalition builds momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.