Political strategist Pauline Njoroge has proposed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as the four principals who should lead the emerging opposition coalition.
Njoroge argued that the coalition forming around the WANTAM movement should maintain a lean top leadership structure while creating space for all participating political parties to have a role in decision-making.
In her assessment of the emerging coalition, Njoroge said each of the four leaders commands a significant political constituency and brings what she described as electoral weight and regional support to the proposed alliance.
“On that basis, I believe the principal-level leadership of the emerging coalition should comprise EDWIN SIFUNA, RIGATHI GACHAGUA, KALONZO MUSYOKA AND FRED MATIANG’I,” she said.
Njoroge's proposal comes as opposition parties and political figures continue discussions on how to structure a broad alliance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
She said the coalition should avoid creating a top leadership structure where every party leader automatically becomes a principal, arguing that such an arrangement could make decision-making cumbersome.
Instead, Njoroge proposed the establishment of a broad Coalition Parties Council comprising leaders of all constituent political parties.
“Every party in the opposition has earned the legitimate right to participate in shaping the emerging coalition,” she said, adding that participation should be institutionalised through a council that reflects the diversity of the opposition.
However, she drew a distinction between participation in the wider coalition and membership of its principal-level leadership.
According to Njoroge, the coalition's top decision-making organ should remain small enough to respond quickly to changing political circumstances.
She compared the proposed structure to the United Nations system, where all member states participate in the General Assembly while a smaller 15-member Security Council handles matters requiring urgent and focused action.
“The underlying principle is simple: broad participation provides legitimacy, while a smaller executive structure provides agility,” Njoroge said.
She maintained that an effective opposition coalition would need to balance inclusivity with an efficient decision-making mechanism.
Njoroge's proposal would therefore give political parties a formal platform through the proposed Coalition Parties Council while reserving principal-level responsibilities for Sifuna, Gachagua, Kalonzo and Matiang’i.
She said the approach would allow the emerging coalition to accommodate more political partners without creating what she described as an “endless table of principals,” which could complicate efforts to provide clear political direction.