Manyora raised concerns after opposition parties resolved to allow each affiliate under the coalition umbrella to field its own candidate in the Ol Kalou by-election, a move they described as “friendly fire.”
Speaking during his daily political analysis on Monday, May 11, 2026, the analyst argued that the opposition risks splitting votes and weakening its chances if it fails to present a united front in politically competitive areas.
“There are places where if you don’t have a united front, Ruto will beat you; there are places where you must have one candidate against William Ruto; and there are also places where those might not apply; it must be informed by the situation on the ground,” Manyora stated.
His remarks come as political parties continue strategising ahead of the highly anticipated by-election, which is already shaping up to be an important political test for both the opposition and the ruling UDA party.
The united opposition has recently sought to strengthen cooperation among its affiliate parties as it attempts to challenge UDA’s growing influence in several parts of the country.
However, internal competition over candidates and party interests has continued to present challenges within the coalition.
Manyora argued that while competition among allied parties may appear healthy in some regions, certain constituencies require a carefully coordinated approach to avoid benefiting political rivals.
According to the analyst, electoral strategy should depend on local political realities rather than broad coalition assumptions.
He noted that in areas where UDA enjoys strong support, a divided opposition could struggle to overcome the ruling party’s numerical advantage and campaign machinery.
The Ol Kalou mini-polls are expected to attract national political attention due to the constituency’s significance and the growing contest between government-allied politicians and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Political observers say the by-election may also serve as an early indicator of shifting political alliances and voter sentiments in the Mt Kenya region, which remains one of the country’s most influential voting blocs.