Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya has rejected the use of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence as the venue for negotiations on a united opposition front.
Munya argued that national political decisions should not be made in an individual’s private home.
He said opposition parties need a neutral venue where all political leaders can participate on an equal footing as they work towards fielding a single presidential candidate against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
“Some of us won’t go to Wamunyoro, which is somebody’s private house, to discuss national issues. We can’t go to somebody’s house to discuss national issues and make national decisions,” Munya said during a TV interview on Wednesday night.
His remarks come as Wamunyoro has increasingly become a meeting point for opposition politicians and other political actors ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua began a 45-day political consultation at his Nyeri residence in June, saying he would engage opinion leaders and political stakeholders before formal negotiations on a joint opposition ticket.
The residence has since hosted several political meetings, including talks between Gachagua and Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi in July.
Munya’s remarks also highlight differences within the opposition over how to manage the process of selecting a candidate to challenge Ruto.
The opposition has repeatedly said it wants to settle on a single presidential candidate, but the process has exposed differing positions among parties and their leaders.
Recent disagreements include Gachagua’s call for smaller Mt Kenya parties to dissolve and join his DCP party, a proposal Munya, Justin Muturi and Lenny Kivuti, among others, have rejected.
Munya said the solution was to establish an inclusive structure in which all opposition leaders have a voice before a candidate is chosen.
“We need neutral places where everybody is comfortable, where we can be able to discuss that structure, an inclusive structure that allows all the bosses in the opposition to participate in the discussions, then we can arrive at one presidential candidate,” he said.
The comments came a day after Munya publicly opposed what he described as attempts to consolidate opposition parties around Gachagua’s DCP.
He also questioned whether Gachagua should automatically emerge as the opposition’s presidential candidate.
Munya said a neutral venue would help build confidence among the different political formations and ensure no single leader appeared to dominate the negotiations.
