DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has argued that the opposition should give Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna the opportunity to lead its presidential campaign in 2027, proposing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate.
Malala said the proposed partnership would bring together a new generation of political leadership and the experience of established politicians, offering an alternative to leaders he accused of dominating Kenya's political scene for decades.
Speaking during an interview on Jeff Koinange Live on Sunday, November 1, the former Kakamega senator compared the proposed arrangement to the political partnership between former US President Barack Obama and his deputy, Joe Biden.
"Riggy G would deputise Sifuna; is he elderly? Yes, that is my desire. Riggy G has alluded to the fact that he is ready to deputise Sifuna. This is an Obama-Biden moment; we need to have a combination of both new and the experience of the past," Malala said.
He maintained that Sifuna should be considered for the top seat rather than automatically allowing more experienced opposition figures to dominate the race.
However, Malala was careful to distinguish his proposal from the official position of the Democracy for the Citizens Party, emphasising that he was expressing his personal preference.
"My personal opinion is that let Sifuna fly the ticket; that is not DCP's position," he stated.
Malala also criticised what he described as the prolonged dominance of established political figures, arguing that younger leaders should not continue waiting for an opportunity to take charge of the country.
He accused politicians who have held power since the era of former President Daniel arap Moi of seeking to maintain their influence into the future.
"We cannot keep on procrastinating our moment to lead. These people who want to remain in power have been in power since the Nyayo era. They led in our past and present, and they want to lead us in our future; we will not accept that," he said.
On Sifuna's leadership credentials, Malala argued that constitutionalism should take priority over demands for costly infrastructure projects, suggesting that respect for the law was central to addressing Kenya's governance challenges.
"Sifuna believes in constitutionalism because constitutionalism will restore Kenya. You wanted Sifuna to build a superhighway – with whose money?" he posed.
His remarks add to the debate over how opposition parties will agree on a joint presidential candidate ahead of the August 2027 General Election, with questions over leadership, experience and generational change likely to remain central to the discussions.