Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has urged opposition leaders to resolve their disagreements privately instead of engaging in public confrontations.

His remarks come after Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming that his arrogance, pride and political ambitions could divide the opposition and weaken its chances of defeating President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

"That majoritarian arrogance and that particular pride is precisely what is going to split the opposition and make it very difficult for the opposition to come together. The leadership and future of our country is not to be decided on ethnic balkanisation. I thought that this was a competition of ideas, platforms, track records, competence and qualifications," Matiang’i said during an interview with NTV.

In response to the remarks, Wambua termed Matiang’i's criticism as insensitive, arguing that public attacks against fellow coalition leaders could provoke hostility among supporters and complicate efforts to build a united opposition.

He said opposition principals should use their private meetings to address disagreements rather than taking their disputes to political rallies and television interviews.

"As a leader in this country, I would encourage our principals to desist from this kind of engagement," Wambua said.

He questioned what Matiang’i expected from supporters of other coalition partners when he publicly criticised their leaders.

"You know, when Matiang’i says the things that he says about another partner in the coalition, what kind of reaction does he expect from the supporters of that partner?" he posed.

The senator said the opposition leadership had a platform where principals could discuss their differences without involving other members. He warned that repeatedly taking disagreements to the media and political gatherings would make it difficult for the opposition to make progress.

"I would rather, because they have a forum where we don't sit, I would rather they deal with their things there. If there will be need for them to call each other names, let them do it away from us. That way, we will get somewhere," he said.

"But if every time a principal has an issue with another principal, we go to rallies, we call the media, then we are not likely to get very far."

He further distinguished between speaking openly and making comments that disregard the feelings of other coalition partners.

"There is being open and blunt, but there is also being insensitive. In this case, I don't think he is very sensitive," Wambua said.

Wambua added that ordinary members could not be expected to remain silent when their party leaders were being disrespected.

He acknowledged that DCP members could also react when they felt other politicians were frustrating their political plans.

He urged the principals to first hold private discussions before communicating their positions to other coalition members.

"Let the principals find it within themselves to speak to each other more in their private conversations, and then communicate their positions to us. But if they want to address each other in media and in rallies, then I don't..."

Wambua's remarks come as questions emerge over the opposition's ability to maintain unity ahead of the 2027 elections, with Matiang’i warning that individual ambitions and ethnic interests could undermine its efforts to challenge Ruto.

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary said he was ready to support any candidate chosen through an inclusive process but opposed attempts by a few politicians to force others to accept their preferred candidate.

"I will support anyone picked through an inclusive, acceptable, and respectful process. I have a serious problem with two or three people frogmarching everybody to a particular corner," Matiang’i said.

He also cautioned that opposition unity alone could not guarantee victory, citing Brazil, where a united opposition candidate had recently lost to an incumbent president.

"A united opposition candidate has just lost an election to an incumbent president in Brazil. Politics is very dynamic," he said.

He maintained that a divided opposition would give Ruto the clearest opportunity to retain power.

"The latest credible survey demonstrates very clearly that President Ruto only has one pathway – a split opposition," he said.