• Speaking during an interview on the Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) on March 4, 2026, he acknowledges the uphill battle facing the opposition as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka insists that Kenyan politics has shifted, defying the old playbook. He points to his alliances with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the United Alternative Government as proof that leaders are working together in new ways.

“The reason I align with Sifuna and the United Alternative Government is because we are all working together. Contrary to what Kenyans think, the normal way of doing business has changed,” Onyonka declares.

Speaking during an interview on the Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) on March 4, 2026, he acknowledges the uphill battle facing the opposition as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.

With President William Ruto commanding state machinery, intelligence, and information, Onyonka concedes that the incumbent regime holds a natural advantage.

“We understand that President William Ruto is formidable. So we are operating in a box where we must be better, smarter, and if need be, cleverer,” he says.

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Onyonka aligns himself with Sifuna’s constitutional agenda, arguing that Kenya’s system is “inherently broken.” He embraces a coalition of strengths: Fred Matiang’i as “Mr Fix It,” Rigathi Gachagua’s positive points, Justin Muturi’s legal counsel, Kalonzo Musyoka's diplomatic credentials, and the youthful wings of Babu Owino and Sifuna.

“I am comfortable with what is going on,” he affirms.

These reflections echo the arguments in the book Democracy Works: Re-Wiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage by Greg Mills, Olusegun Obasanjo, Tendai Biti, and Jeffrey Herbst.

The book explains how incumbency, state machinery, and coalition-building shape African politics, and why opposition movements must innovate beyond traditional party lines.

As the authors put it: “Substantive democracy demands more than just regular polls. It is about institutions, values, and leadership beyond simply winning the popular vote.”

That sentiment resonates with Onyonka’s insistence that opposition leaders must be “better, smarter, and cleverer” to counter incumbency in Kenya’s evolving political landscape.

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