Ruto allies train fire on Kalonzo after Gachagua signals support for Wiper boss

President William Ruto and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka

President William Ruto and his allies have turned their political guns on Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, in what is increasingly seen as a pre-emptive effort to weaken his standing within the United Opposition.

The onslaught that was initiated by Ruto himself accusing the Wiper boss of a poor development record, follows signals of support from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua has been sending signals that he could back Kalonzo for the country's top job, making the Wiper leader the most consequential opposition, as Kenya heads to the 2027 polls.

The coordinated attacks have taken cue from Ruto, who recently took aim at Kalonzo over infrastructure development in Ukambani, questioning why key roads in the region remained neglected despite the Wiper leader’s decades-long presence in government.

That line of attack has now been amplified by Ruto allies.

Kitutu Chache MP Japheth Nyakundi accused Kalonzo of presiding over years of neglect in his home region while “flaunting 40 years in government as a medal”.

“In Ukambani, it reads as 40 years of dust and neglect. Mwingi West’s Tulia–Migwani–Mbondoni road waited decades until President Ruto inspected tarmacking works in 2025. Where were you while Ukambani choked and stalled hopelessly?” Nyakundi asked.

Adding to the onslaught on Kalonzo is his former ally-turned-foe Johnson Muthama in a speech in Kwale on Monday.

Muthama argued that Kalonzo’s political approach remains outdated and overly reliant on ethnic arithmetic and balkanisation.

“He needs to change his mindset and understand that Kenya is far bigger than tribal politics. Votes from the Kikuyu or Kamba communities alone cannot get him the presidency,” he said.

In a jibe, Muthama said Kalonzo needed prayers “for God to open his eyes to the best strategy for rising to the presidency”.

“I pray that God will give us a president who will unite Kenyans. Ruto could be a tribal leader, but he has not engaged in tribal politics or displayed his tribal side," he said.

"Yet look at the others — they keep talking about having secured voting bases from Mt Kenya to wherever, but they cannot even win elections if they are left to contest alone.” 

The remarks tied together mirror a broader narrative from Ruto’s camp that seeks to portray Kalonzo as politically entitled and unable to translate long public service into tangible development outcomes as president.

The criticism of Kalonzo has also drawn other commentators, notably former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu who aligns with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.

Wambugu has faulted the Wiper leader over his recent political alliances.

In a series of Facebook posts on Sunday, Wambugu argued that Kalonzo’s troubles were less about his own political missteps and more about the company he has chosen to keep over the past year.

“Historically, Kalonzo has never generated national excitement, but he has also rarely attracted coordinated national attacks.That has now changed.”

According to Wambugu, Kalonzo’s association with Gachagua has made him a target of forces determined to block the former Deputy President’s political resurgence.

“Now he is attracting focused attacks not due to his own mistakes, but because of just one new friend he has gotten in the last year,” he said.

Wambugu claimed that Gachagua’s critics, particularly within Mt Kenya, were now more determined to fight Kalonzo as part of a broader political project aimed at neutralising the former Vice President’s influence.

Blogger Wahome Thuku, who recently fell out with Gachagua, noted that accounting for 40 years in leadership with nothing to show is a tough place for Kalonzo to be.

“So in 40 years he only launched [a road]? By the time Kalonzo was "allegedly" launching these roads as Vice President, he had been in government for 23 years. In fact from 1986-88 he was assistant minister for Works, Housing and Physical Planning, the most relevant docket to do something for his people on infrastructure.

“Removing Ruto and replacing him with Kalonzo will put the country on hold for five if not 10 years. It will be a static moment, nothing happening,” Thuku said.