There is a difference between being influential in a region and being influential in a country.
Many politicians confuse the two.
A leader can fill rallies in their backyard, dominate local conversations, and still struggle to gain national appeal.
That is the challenge facing many opposition leaders today.
Their speeches are carefully designed for their strongholds. Their messages excite their loyal supporters. Their language resonates with their political base.
But Kenya is bigger than any single region.
The presidency is not awarded to the loudest voice in one corner of the country. It is awarded to the candidate who convinces the widest range of voters.
The opposition is currently producing many regional champions.
What remains unclear is whether it is producing a national leader.
Those are not always the same thing.
