By Peter Halima
NAIROBI, Kenya – Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has vehemently denied recent claims that he attempted to secretly arrange a meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to discuss strategies for the 2027 general election. The allegations surfaced amidst persistent efforts by the Kenya Kwanza administration to court opposition figures.
The reports, reportedly originating from a State House insider and circulated by a blogger, suggested that Mr. Musyoka sought to use National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula as an emissary to connect him with the Deputy President. The claim detailed that the Wiper leader allegedly reached out to Wetang’ula shortly before joining his opposition colleagues for a recent tour of Western Kenya, requesting a meeting with Kindiki. A tweet from the blogger, accompanied by a photo of Kalonzo and Wetang’ula, fueled the speculation.
However, Mr. Musyoka swiftly countered the assertion. Through his spokesperson, Paloma Gatabaki, the Wiper leader dismissed the reports as fabricated, quoting Kalonzo as having said, “Even lying requires a bit of intelligence!” Gatabaki stated that Mr. Musyoka had not contemplated meeting Kindiki for any agenda.
The denial comes amid persistent rumors that Kalonzo Musyoka is being actively courted to join President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza side. In the recent past, the Wiper leader has been charged with assuring his colleagues in the opposition’s Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Alliance that he will not abandon them to join the government.
Conversely, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has openly pursued efforts to bring Mr. Musyoka into the ruling coalition. Last month, during the Ukambani edition of the government’s empowerment series, Kindiki leveraged the platform to directly woo Kalonzo. In his assessment, the Deputy President remarked that Mr. Musyoka’s political temperament does not align with the confrontational style often exhibited by figures like Rigathi Gachagua and other opposition leaders, expressing a desire to meet and discuss the idea of a defection.
Despite Kindiki’s overtures, Kalonzo Musyoka has consistently turned down the invitation. He has cited a host of reasons why he cannot join the current administration, purporting to stand on the side of the citizenry against what he describes as the current regime’s failures. He has specifically pointed to President Ruto’s alleged shortcomings and the recent crackdown on young Kenyans protesting government policies as key reasons for his refusal to work with the President.
The former Vice President has vowed to remain steadfast within the opposition, where he harbors hopes of being entrusted with the Azimio faction’s presidential ticket to face off against President Ruto in the 2027 general election.
Questions linger, however, over Mr. Musyoka’s consistency, given his past political shifts. He is on record as having, in 2021, vehemently ruled out working with ODM leader Raila Odinga after their failed joint presidential bids in 2017 and 2013. At the time, Kalonzo had accused Raila of leveraging his support without reciprocation, famously vowing, “I will be the most stupid person on earth to support Raila Odinga for president for the third time without a measure of reciprocity.” He ultimately joined Odinga’s camp in 2022, accepting a promise of a prime minister-like post had they formed the government.
As political temperatures rise ahead of the next election cycle, all eyes will remain on Kalonzo Musyoka to see if his current steadfast commitment to the opposition holds, or if the history of his political pragmatism will once again dictate his path.
