MOMBASA, Kenya—Former Kisauni MP and Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant Ali Mbogo has warned that divisions within the opposition could give President William Ruto an advantage in the 2027 General Election, urging rival political leaders to agree on a single presidential candidate.
Mbogo said the opposition must overcome its internal differences and settle on one candidate capable of challenging Ruto, arguing that failure to do so could undermine its efforts to unseat the President.
He maintained that the political landscape had shifted significantly since the 2022 General Election, claiming that several regions which supported Ruto in the last election had moved away from his political camp.
Mbogo singled out the Mt Kenya region, which he said had more than eight million voters across ten counties, arguing that Ruto could no longer command the level of support he enjoyed there in 2022.
He attributed the changing political alignment to the influence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has established a strong political presence across the region.
The former legislator also pointed to Western Kenya, the political home of Nairobi Senator and Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna, claiming that the region was increasingly rallying behind Sifuna ahead of the next presidential contest.
According to Mbogo, the shifting political alignments in these regions have altered the numerical calculations that shaped the previous election, making it difficult for Ruto to replicate his 2022 performance.
His remarks come amid growing political realignments within the opposition, with Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement seeking to establish a broader political platform ahead of the 2027 polls.
Mbogo, who recently ditched the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for Linda Mwananchi, has declared his intention to contest the Mombasa gubernatorial seat under the emerging political formation.
Addressing a Bunge la Mwananchi meeting in Changamwe, Mombasa County, he called on residents to change their political approach in the next election and remove incumbent Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir from office.
He accused the county administration of failing to improve residents’ living conditions, arguing that Mombasa needed a change in leadership.
Mbogo said the August 2027 election would present an opportunity for political change, new opportunities and improved livelihoods for Kenyans.
His position places him among the politicians seeking to use the Linda Mwananchi platform to advance both national opposition politics and their individual electoral ambitions.
The movement now faces the challenge of reconciling competing presidential ambitions among its political allies while developing a common strategy for the next election.
For Mbogo, however, the message is that changing regional political alignments alone will not be enough to dislodge Ruto if opposition leaders fail to agree on one candidate and mobilise behind a common political programme.
