Why Kalonzo is emerging as opposition favourite in battle against Ruto

FORMER Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is today set to receive endorsement from Wiper delegates to contest for the presidency in what would be his second and most consequential run for State House.

The Star has established that with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i strategically elbowed from the joint opposition team, Kalonzo remains the undisputed favourite to face President William Ruto.

Today’s National Delegates Conference will therefore be double blessings for Kalonzo as he prepares for what could be a tight race after his disastrous performance in 2007.

Sources said former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has a soft spot for Kalonzo and is willing to rally the over over five million Mount Kenya voters behind him.

The Gachagua axis is reportedly insisting on a running mate slot for Mount Kenya, whether the impeached former DP is cleared to contest or not.

Today, Kalonzo is set to chair a mega meeting of over 35,000 Wiper delegates at Uhuru Park, where he is expected to receive a formal endorsement to run for the presidency in 2027.

 “During the NDC, the delegates will endorse our party leader to give him the mandate to go and vie for President in 2027,” Wiper secretary general Shakila Abdalla told the Star on phone.

Top opposition leaders are expected to grace the NDC.

By Thursday, Gahagua (DCP), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), Justin Muturi (DP) and Martha Karua (PLP) had confirmed attendance, Wiper insiders said.

Apart from endorsing Kalonzo, Wiper will also ratify a number of party constitutional changes for its strategic advantage in the 2027 polls.

Among the notable changes include increasing the number of deputy party leader positions from two to four to enhance regional representation and accommodate special interest groups, including youth, women and minorities.

“As you are aware, we changed our party name to Wiper Patriotic Front; that is one thing that needs to be ratified,” Shakila disclosed. “We had some few amendments in our election rules.”

The nominated senator vowed the time had come for Kalonzo to reap the reward for loyalty and patience.

“Our candidate is the best because he has proved it. Initially, he was called all sorts of names but with time the truth has come out,” Shakila said.

“He is one kind of leader who is always there to serve the people. He sticks with his people come rain or sunshine. If there is anything he would have to do is for the better of the people, not self.”

Political analysts say Kalonzo’s renewed momentum follows months of strategic grassroots mobilisation, quiet outreach to regional kingpins, and a deliberate effort to rebrand himself as a dependable and unifying figure has made him the natural candidate for the opposition.

Suba Churchill said Musyoka’s age and political maturity give him the upper hand in the contest for the opposition presidential ticket ahead of 2027.

The executive director of the Kenya National Civil Society Centre argued that Kalonzo’s long experience in government and calm demeanor make him a unifying figure at a time the opposition needs stability and strategy.

“He is a gentlemen who, despite his past links with Kanu, has had his induction and orientation in the opposition. He has been Vice President for one full term and is perceived generally as not so aggressive as to disrupt the status quo,” Suba told the Star.

“The fact that he comes from a community whose numbers do not rank among the top three also makes him less threatening and enables him to work with others even if he became the candidate and hopefully the President.”

Kalonzo’s allies believe the delegates’ conference will not only transform Wiper from a regional outfit into a national political force but also confirm that he is the best bet to face Ruto’s machine.

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, one of Kalonzo’s key strategists, insists that the former Vice President is best placed to complete the national transformation agenda he began alongside late former President Mwai Kibaki during the grand coalition government.

He cited Kalonzo’s role in implementing key infrastructure and institutional reforms under the Kibaki administration, describing him as a unifying leader capable of restoring stability and economic growth.

“This country has a document called Vision 2030, which Kalonzo and Kibaki and other stakeholders midwifed. Successive regimes have used the document not to grow the country but to loot through the proposed programmes,” Mwangangi told the Star.

“This country is where we were in 2002 where Moi was exiting power, and we need a sober, mature and well-focused leader who can lead this country to a growth path. Kalonzo is that man.”

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo said Kalonzo’s experience and record in governance make him the natural favourite to fly the opposition flag against Ruto.

“He has been the Vice President and has a long experience in public affairs. We will be nominating him as the Wiper presidential candidate,” Maanzo stated.

Allies of President William Ruto have, however, dismissed Kalonzo’s presidential ambitions, branding him a perpetual beneficiary of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s political clout.

Former nominated MP Wilson Sossion accused Kalonzo of lacking a distinct political identity, claiming his relevance in national politics has been propped up solely by his alliances with Raila.

“Between Raila and Kalonzo, who holds more followers and a stronger support base? Kalonzo has been walking in the shadows of Raila’s base,” Sossion said.

“Someone will deceive Kalonzo that he can win in 2027 but if Kalonzo garners even more than 30 per cent, it would be the biggest miracle.”

Despite the criticism, Kalonzo’s camp has remained defiant, insisting that his track record and experience make him a strong contender in the race to succeed President Ruto.

The former Vice President has also benefited from the current disarray within the opposition following ODM leader Raila Odinga’s shift of focus to the broad-based government.

With Raila’s likely support for Ruto’s re-election, many disgruntled ODM members are rallying around Kalonzo as the natural heir to the movement.

Already, the influential Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who is against Raila’s continued dalliance with Ruto, has publicly endorsed Kalonzo to face-off with President Ruto.

Babu argues that Kalonzo has firmly steadied the opposition movement and is the best bet to send Ruto home in the coming polls.

“In 2020, people turned out in the USA when Trump was serving his first term; they didn’t go to vote in Joe Biden, they went to vote out Trump. In 2002 in Kenya, people went to vote out Daniel Moi; they did not go to vote in Mwai Kibaki,” he said.

“In 2027, Kalonzo will be the real deal. When Kalonzo was in Azimio he was a good person. Now that he is in opposition, what makes him bad? What is it that he is lacking?"

Meanwhile, Kalonzo has quietly established a presidential secretariat - although lean - to guide his 2027 bid.

At the SKM Centre, Kalonzo has hired advisers and established his own command centre that will be running his programmes in the lead up to the 2027 polls.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

As the 2027 race begins to take shape, Kalonzo’s biggest test will be how well he can expand his base beyond the traditional Eastern bloc and bring together a fractured opposition. For now, however, he stands as the man to watch, poised to give President Ruto his strongest challenge yet.