Siaya Governor James Orengo’s declaration that he will run for president in 2027 has opened a new chapter in the internal contest over who should eventually lead the Linda Mwananchi opposition movement.
Orengo has insisted that his decision to seek the presidency is not an attempt to undermine Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has also expressed interest in becoming the movement’s presidential candidate.
“I am going to run for president, which is not a crime,” Orengo said, defending the right of leaders within the coalition to compete before a single candidate is selected.
His declaration comes as opposition leaders face growing pressure to agree on a formula for choosing one presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Why Orengo is entering the race
Orengo, a veteran opposition politician and former presidential candidate, argues that competition within a political movement does not automatically mean division.
He pointed to the 2007 election, when several senior leaders within the Orange Democratic Movement were presidential contenders under the party’s so-called Pentagon arrangement.
“In 2007 there was what was called the Pentagon within ODM. The five people who constituted the Pentagon were all presidential candidates,” he said.
For Orengo, allowing multiple leaders to express their presidential ambitions before negotiations are concluded is part of the democratic process.
“I am not spoiling it, because I am committed to having one presidential candidate,” he said.
Where Sifuna fits in
Sifuna has emerged as one of the prominent figures in the opposition’s 2027 discussions and has already indicated his interest in the presidency.
His growing profile has attracted support from sections of the movement, creating expectations that he could eventually seek the coalition’s backing.
Orengo’s declaration, however, means Sifuna now faces competition from another senior politician within the same political formation.
Rather than viewing the contest as a direct confrontation, Orengo says the movement should allow internal competition before settling on its final candidate.
The disagreement over the presidential ticket
The question of who should carry the Linda Mwananchi presidential ticket has already generated disagreements among the coalition’s principals.
Orengo revealed that the issue was raised during a political retreat in Limuru, Kiambu County.
However, he opposed putting the choice of a presidential candidate on the agenda at that stage, arguing that more consultation was required.
“The issue of a presidential candidate was brought as an agenda, but I said it was inappropriate at that time and that it needed more consultation,” Orengo said.
He acknowledged that some leaders were unhappy with his position.
“Some people were unhappy about that,” he said.
The disagreement illustrates the difficulty the movement faces in balancing individual presidential ambitions with its stated objective of presenting one candidate against President William Ruto.
Why one candidate matters
The opposition’s challenge is not simply about deciding who is the most popular leader.
The eventual candidate must also be acceptable to the different political factions within Linda Mwananchi and capable of keeping supporters of unsuccessful contenders within the coalition.
A prolonged contest could expose divisions, while an early decision could risk alienating leaders who believe they have a legitimate chance of winning the ticket.
Orengo’s position appears to favour allowing the competing ambitions to play out before negotiations produce a single candidate.
That approach could give the movement more time to assess the strengths of its potential candidates, but it could also intensify competition among them.
Orengo’s presidential history
Orengo is not new to presidential politics.
He contested the 2002 presidential election on a Social Democratic Party ticket before becoming part of the ODM political establishment ahead of the 2007 election.
His latest declaration therefore represents a return to the presidential contest more than two decades after his first attempt.
It also gives the Linda Mwananchi movement another experienced politician to consider as it weighs its options for 2027.
What happens next?
The immediate challenge for Linda Mwananchi will be finding a process that allows its leaders to compete without permanently dividing the movement.
Orengo has already committed himself to supporting the eventual decision to field one presidential candidate, even as he maintains his own ambition.
The movement will therefore have to answer three key questions: Who will carry the presidential ticket, how will that candidate be selected, and what political arrangement will keep the other contenders within the coalition?
With Sifuna and Orengo now openly positioning themselves for the presidency, the race for the Linda Mwananchi ticket is becoming an important test of whether the opposition can turn its unity message into a workable political alliance before the 2027 election.
