Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has emerged as the leading opposition candidate in a new opinion poll ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election, reigniting debate over who should carry the
opposition’s presidential ticket against President William Ruto.
According to a Swiss Poll survey conducted between July 25 and August 6, 2026, Kalonzo commands 22 per cent support among opposition presidential contenders. He is followed by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna at 13 per cent, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at 11 per cent and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at 6 per cent. The survey involved 4,037 respondents.
The findings come at a time when opposition parties are intensifying efforts to agree on a single presidential candidate capable of mounting a strong challenge to Ruto in 2027.
The poll also points to the potential strength of a united opposition. A proposed Kalonzo-Sifuna-Matiang’i combination reportedly attracted 44 per cent support, suggesting that cooperation among opposition leaders could significantly reshape the race.
Kalonzo has repeatedly maintained that opposition unity should take priority as the political class prepares for the 2027 contest. He has also indicated that he would be willing to support another opposition candidate, including Sifuna, if consensus is reached.
The latest findings, however, should be viewed as a snapshot of voter sentiment rather than a prediction of the final election outcome. Earlier surveys have produced different rankings, underlining how fluid the opposition race remains. A July TIFA poll, for instance, placed President Ruto ahead nationally while showing Sifuna as one of the fastest-rising opposition figures.
With the 2027 election still ahead, the central question for the opposition remains whether the parties can translate their combined support into a single, coordinated presidential campaign.
For Kalonzo, the latest poll provides fresh political momentum as negotiations over the opposition’s 2027 strategy continue.
