The political temperature has risen sharply today, after former President Uhuru Kenyatta urged opposition leaders to set aside their differences and field one candidate against President William Ruto in next year's elections.
According to NTV Kenya's broadcasts and its social media posts, Kenyatta told the nation that Kenyans have already decided on the direction they want to take.
In his telling, voters have grown weary of the current administration and have begun yearning for fresh leadership.
He therefore called on opposition figures to close ranks, arguing that a divided field has historically handed incumbents an easy path to victory.
The former head of state also expressed confidence in the leaders he has addressed, saying they can deliver justice to Kenyans if they have the discipline to stand together.
His message carried a clear warning: without unity, the opposition has little chance of turning public discontent into votes.
The response from State House has not taken long to arrive. NTV Kenya has reported that Ruto, who has just wrapped up a four-day tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties, has used the final leg of his trip to hit back at his predecessor.
The president has dismissed the idea that Kenyatta has any say over his decisions, insisting that the former president has not told him anything he needs to hear.
He has gone further, accusing Kenyatta of neglecting the responsibilities that come with being a national elder and of pursuing politics mainly for personal benefit.
The exchange has underlined how quickly the 2027 contest has begun to take shape.
With the election countdown running at roughly 271 days, both camps have started sharpening their messages and testing the loyalty of their bases.
Kenyatta's call has placed pressure on opposition chiefs, who have often struggled to agree on who should carry the flag, while Ruto's rebuttal has shown that the government side has no intention of leaving such claims unanswered.
Analysts have yet to say whether the appeal will translate into a workable coalition.
For now, the opposition has been handed a challenge, the president has answered it, and the battle lines for the next election have become visibly clearer.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BpbbdDqzg/