Veteran opposition leader Martha Karua has poured cold water on growing speculation over a 2027 political line-up within the United Coalition, insisting no agreement has been made among its top leaders.

Speaking during an interview on NTV, Karua, who heads the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), cautioned against what she called premature and misleading leaks aimed at shaping public opinion before any formal discussions have taken place.

“I want to caution those among our ranks to stop leaking information that has not been agreed upon, including proposed line-ups,” Karua said, visibly frustrated. “If any proposals by our technical team have not been debated by the principals, it is not the truth.”

In recent days, speculation has mounted about the potential 2027 presidential team from the opposition bloc, with names and roles being floated on social media and in some local press. But Karua pushed back, warning that such talk could harm the credibility and internal cohesion of the movement.

“If there are such proposals—and I wouldn’t know because nothing has been tabled—stop giving people positions and all that,” she added. “Just leave the process to take its course.”

Bigger Than Ousting Ruto

While she confirmed that coalition-building work is quietly progressing, Karua stressed that the opposition’s ambitions go beyond replacing President William Ruto.

“We not only want Ruto and his entire regime to go; we also want a transformed Kenya,” she said.

According to Karua, several technical teams have been tasked with examining policy, governance, and strategy. She underlined that core issues—like corruption, impunity, and the erosion of rule of law—must remain at the centre of opposition planning.

“This is not about simply getting power,” she said. “It’s about fixing a broken system.”

No Talks with the Regime

Karua also ruled out any possibility of engaging President Ruto’s administration in dialogue. She criticised the 2023 National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) process, in which her Azimio colleagues took part, as a failed venture that offered little to ordinary citizens.

“Dialogue with the current regime is not an option,” she said flatly. “I cautioned against those talks from the beginning.”

According to Karua, the NADCO process ended up benefitting political elites while ignoring the needs of struggling Kenyans.

A Call for Discipline and Patience

Karua’s comments come at a time of visible tension within the broader opposition, which has struggled to present a unified front since the last general election. Despite efforts to rebuild, scattered messaging and speculative reports have raised concerns about whether a credible and united challenge to Ruto’s presidency will take shape ahead of 2027.

Still, Karua remains a firm voice for internal discipline and long-term thinking.

“We cannot win by rushing into positions,” she said. “We must win by building trust with the people—and with each other.”