Kituyi: Even Sifuna as Ruto’s running mate would not save President in 2027

Former Trade Minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has made a bold prediction about the 2027 General Election, arguing that President William Ruto would still lose even if he picked the increasingly popular Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as his running mate.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday night, Kituyi said Sifuna’s growing popularity would not be enough to rescue Ruto politically if the two were placed on the same presidential ticket.

“Right now, Edwin Sifuna is very popular. If Sifuna were chosen to be the running mate of Ruto, they would go home together,” Kituyi said.

He went further, arguing that he does not believe Ruto can secure what he described as a legitimate mandate for another five years.

“There are some things that are not possible, like Ruto winning a legitimate mandate to remain president of Kenya,” Kituyi said.

“He can attempt to keep power without winning an election; that’s a very slippery route to go down, and the cost of it is unfathomable.”

The remarks represent Kituyi’s political assessment rather than an established prediction of the 2027 result. Kenya's next presidential election is still nearly a year away, and voters will ultimately determine whether Ruto receives a second term.

But Kituyi’s comments are significant because they came as he publicly threw his weight behind Sifuna as his preferred opposition presidential candidate.

Why Kituyi is backing Sifuna

During the interview, Kituyi described Sifuna as a politician with energy, consistency and integrity and argued that the Nairobi senator has succeeded in reaching a constituency that other established politicians have struggled to mobilise.

“He has excited a major section of the electorate that nobody had been able to open up: the younger voters,” Kituyi said, describing them as a “non-tribal political constituency.”

Kituyi said he had not seen anything in Sifuna’s public history that made him vulnerable to political compromise.

His endorsement comes as Sifuna attempts to expand his Linda Mwananchi movement into a broader national political platform.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sifuna announced that Kituyi had joined the movement after the former minister met him alongside Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.

“Hon Kituyi will be a great addition to the Linda Mwananchi team! Karibu Omwami,” Sifuna said.

Kituyi, however, made clear that his preference for Sifuna does not mean he would reject another opposition candidate.

He said he would support whoever is eventually agreed upon as the united opposition candidate against Ruto.

“As of now, my preferred candidate is Sifuna; however, I will support whichever candidate is agreed upon as the candidate of the opposition,” he said.

Could Sifuna's youth support be transferred?

One of Kituyi's more consequential observations concerned the changing character of Kenya's electorate.

He argued that Sifuna has attracted younger voters who are less attached to the traditional ethnic coalitions that have shaped presidential elections.

But he also acknowledged an important unknown: whether those voters would automatically support another opposition politician if Sifuna were not ultimately chosen.

“Is that constituency transferable to any other candidate? I don't know yet, but it's a constituency we cannot wish away,” Kituyi said.

That question could become central to opposition negotiations.

Several political figures are positioning themselves for the 2027 contest, while opposition leaders have repeatedly spoken about the need to avoid fragmenting the anti-Ruto vote.

Kituyi said the opposition remains committed to presenting a single presidential candidate and revealed that discussions are also focused on developing a common political agenda before settling on the eventual flagbearer.

He ruled himself out of the contest.

“We still remain committed to fielding a single presidential candidate against Ruto. I am not running for any elective office,” Kituyi said.

A warning over Ruto's second term

Kituyi's strongest criticism, however, was reserved for the possibility of another Ruto presidency.

He argued that a second term could leave the President with fewer political restraints because he would no longer need to seek re-election.

“If Ruto came back, there would be no guardrails on his presidency,” he said.

Kituyi also criticised the government's record on the rule of law and accused the administration of displaying authoritarian tendencies, characterising the current political environment in particularly stark terms during the interview.

The government and Ruto's allies have previously rejected opposition claims that the administration is authoritarian and have defended the President's record on democratic governance and constitutional institutions.

Kituyi's suggestion that Ruto could seek to remain in power without legitimately winning an election is also a serious political allegation for which he presented no evidence during the quoted exchange.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, not individual politicians, is constitutionally responsible for conducting Kenya's elections, while disputes over presidential results can be challenged before the Supreme Court.

For now, the 2027 contest remains open.

What Kituyi's intervention does reveal is another emerging question for the opposition: whether Sifuna's popularity, particularly among younger voters, is strong enough to transform him from a prominent senator and opposition voice into a serious contender for State House.

And if it is, whether established opposition leaders will be prepared to rally behind him.