- The opposition, currently led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, appears to be leaning on Gen Z as part of its strategy
- This was evident when lawyer-turned-political activist Morara Kebaso attended their high-stakes meeting amid speculation about the formation of an opposition coalition
- In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, political analyst and governance consultant Javas Bigambo warned that if winning over Gen Z is the opposition’s only strategy, they are doomed
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua have repeatedly aligned themselves with the Gen Z movement.
How has the opposition aligned to Gen Zs
Recently, Gachagua and Kalonzo held a high-stakes meeting on Tuesday, March 4, amid reports of a possible coalition formation. Lawyer-turned-political activist Morara Kebaso, who identifies as the Gen Z leader, was also in attendance.
PAY ATTENTION:TUKO is in WhatsApp Channels now! Subscribe and read news in favourite messenger.
The next day, Morara announced on social media that he and his Inject Party had officially joined forces with the opposition, currently led by Kalonzo and Gachagua.
He urged Gen Z to join him in the opposition, promising that aligning with it would give them a path to eventually becoming part of the government.
Another instance is when Gachagua was once linked to the June 2024 Gen Z-led demonstrations, which resulted in the storming of Parliament and setting it on fire.
In response, Gachagua told the media he had no problem being linked to the nation’s youth, describing them as a significant force.
However, he denied orchestrating the demonstrations, stating they were driven by Gen Z’s opposition to the Finance Bill 2024. He acknowledged that Gen Z holds enough influence to help anyone they support win the presidency.
Kalonzo has also openly aligned with Gen Z, warning Kenya Kwanza about their influence and stressing the need for the government to address their demands.
Karua, who is also aligned with the opposition, recently rebranded her party from Narc Kenya to the People’s Liberation Party. She emphasised the importance of engaging the youth, who make up the majority of Kenya’s population.
She emphasised that her newly founded party belongs to Gen Z, who would play a central role in shaping its direction.
However, will the opposition’s alignment with Gen Z be enough to secure victory in the highly anticipated 2027 General Election?
Aligning with Gen Z is not enough
In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, political analyst and governance expert Javas Bigambo said Gachagua and Kalonzo must go beyond aligning with Gen Z to block Ruto from winning a second term.
He contended that Kalonzo, Karua, and Gachagua must step beyond press conferences, boardroom meetings and actively connect with the public through campaigns.
“Karua is stuck in Kilimani. She has not moved to coast or western region. They are stuck to hotel room meetings and press room conferences. They should move. You see Raila and Ruto are always moving around the country,” Bigambo stated.
He warned that if the opposition is relying solely on the Gen Z strategy and press conferences, they risk a resounding defeat.
“If Karua and Kalonzo are stuck with the Gen Z as the only way of strategy then they have already lost the elections,” he added.
Bigambo observed that Kalonzo appears to be relying on Gachagua, who is highly skilled at drawing large crowds. However, he asserted that Gachagua’s influence is largely limited to the Mt. Kenya region.
” Kalonzo looks like he is depending on Gachaguawho will only mobilise the Mt. Kenya votes which is not really enough.”
The political analyst stated that relying solely on Gachagua is insufficient. He argued that while Kalonzo commands a portion of the votes in the Eastern region, much more needs to be done for the opposition to achieve its presidential ambitions.
Will Raila join opposition after failing his AUC bid?
Former prime minister Raila Odinga has clarified his next political move after failing to secure the African Union Commission chairmanship.
He dismissed the possibility of working with Gachagua, citing the latter’s previous remarks about setting traps for him at State House.
This comes amid speculation about a possible coalition between Ruto and Raila.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
