Dr Mukhisa KituyiThe United Opposition has appointed former Kimilili MP Mukhisa Kituyi as their spokesperson and the Head of Secretariat.
The announcement was made Wednesday evening by Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka via social media post.
Kituyi is an academic giant who served as the secretary general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 2013 to 2021.
He was previously Kenya's Minister of Trade and Industry from 2002 to 2007 and was the Chief Executive of the Kenya Institute of Governance.
Kituyi stepped down from UNCTAD to pursue a bid for the presidency but later withdrew his candidacy to support Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition during the 2022 presidential race.
The United Opposition brings together six political parties under one umbrella.
The coalition is made up of the Democracy for the Citizens Party, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua; the Wiper Patriotic Front party, under Kalonzo Musyoka; the People’s Liberation Party, led by Martha Karua; the Democratic Action Party–Kenya, headed by Eugene Wamalwa; the Democratic Party, under Justin Muturi; and the Jubilee Party, which is represented by its chairman Torome Saitoti with the backing of former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Although the alliance remains fluid with no registered agreement, the united opposition is actively seeking to unite ahead of the 2027 elections with Gachagua, Kalonzo, Karua, Wamalwa, Matiang’i, Muturi, Kituyi and ex-Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi coordinating efforts to form a united front to unseat President William Ruto at the 2027 general elections.
Appointing Dr Kituyi as spokesperson and head of the secretariat brings to the team a seasoned leader with deep experience in governance, trade diplomacy, and policy strategy, giving the alliance both credibility and international stature.
During his stint in elective politics, Mukhisa served as Member of Parliament for Kimilili constituency between 1992 and 2007.
During that period, he served at different periods as chief Opposition Whip and chairperson of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee over the 10 years he was in opposition.
A seasoned orator and tough negotiator, highlights of Kituyi's stellar career include chairing the COMESA council of Ministers for two years while serving as Minister for Trade and Industry between 2002 and 2007.
He also chaired the African Trade Ministers’ Council for two years, was the Lead Negotiator for Eastern and Southern African ministers in the EPAs negotiation, chaired ACP council of ministers and was the Convenor of the Agricultural Negotiations at the Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting of the WTO on the DOHA round.
Kituyi's appointment is a culmination of a meeting held earlier on Wednesday with Kalonzo as the convener for unity talks.
The leaders converged at Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka's (SKM) command centre in Karen, Nairobi, as the opposition chiefs sought to portray a picture of unity in light of growing murmurs that the alliance was unstable and lacking cohesion.
Insiders said the meeting was meant to project an image of a united front and dispel rumours of internal strife following heightened individual campaigns.
Gachagua, Matiang’i, Karua, Wamalwa, Muturi, Kituyi, Linturi and Saitoti attended the meeting, coming just a week after Gachagua declared that he would contest for the presidency.
Sources privy to the closed-door meeting said the leaders encouraged each other to continue strengthening their parties even as they continue to talk about a possible joint ticket to take on Ruto in 2027.
“This was an in-house meeting of the leaders to iron out emerging issues on their unity. It was also meant to agree on the forthcoming tour to Kisii next week on the 8th,” Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said.
