Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has warned that he will distance himself from a united opposition administration if its leaders eventually take power and turn State House into a centre for distributing money to individuals.
Onyonka made the remarks while commenting on the possibility of opposition figures such as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua taking over the country after the 2027 General Election.
The senator said he would not remain associated with a government that allows people to routinely visit State House to receive money once one of the opposition leaders becomes president.
“The moment Sifuna, Matiang’i, Kalonzo, or Gachagua becomes President and starts having people come to State House to receive money, I will walk away,” Onyonka said.
His remarks come amid continued efforts by opposition leaders to establish a united political front ahead of the 2027 elections. Several opposition figures have been involved in consultations aimed at finding a common strategy for challenging President William Ruto.
Sifuna has emerged as one of the prominent voices pushing for opposition cooperation, while Matiang’i, Kalonzo and Gachagua have also been mentioned among politicians whose support could prove important in determining the opposition’s direction.
Onyonka’s warning, however, focused on what should happen after the opposition potentially wins the presidency. Rather than concentrating only on defeating the current administration, he suggested that the conduct of the next government would determine whether he continues supporting it.
The senator appeared particularly concerned about the practice of people seeking financial assistance directly from the Head of State. His comments suggest that he expects any future administration backed by the opposition to promote a different approach to governance.
The statement also comes as political discussions intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election, with opposition leaders attempting to balance individual presidential ambitions with calls for a single united political formation.
Onyonka’s position could add another dimension to those discussions, especially as political leaders seek to assure supporters that a change of government would bring changes in the way public resources and state institutions are managed.
For Onyonka, political victory alone would not be enough. He indicated that his continued support would depend on whether the eventual president maintains principles he considers important in running the government.
His warning was therefore directed not only at the opposition’s current leaders but also at whoever may eventually occupy State House, signalling that he would be prepared to walk away if the administration adopted a culture of distributing money from the presidential residence.