Back my 2027 bid or quit, Kalonzo warns pro-Ruto rebels

Cup pressure peaks as Shabana host Kenya Police in blockbuster quarter-final Football

Upper Hill coach Walgwe unperturbed despite drawing giants in Prescott Cup group phase Rugby

Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has issued a blunt warning to dissenting members of his party, telling them to either align with his 2027 presidential ambition or exit the outfit.

Speaking on Saturday during a ceremony to rename Kyuso Girls Secondary School in his former Mwingi North constituency, Kalonzo said he would no longer tolerate what he described as pretenders and double-crossers who are unwilling to back his bid for State House.

The event, which preceded a fundraising drive that raised Sh5.8 million for the purchase of a school bus, was presided over by Makueni Woman Representative Rose Museo. The school — whose establishment Kalonzo supported during his tenure as area MP — was renamed Mama Pauline Kalonzo Girls Kyuso in honour of his wife, who has been unwell for some time.

But beyond the celebratory mood, Kalonzo used the platform to send a strong political message to critics within his ranks.

“I will not allow myself to be used as a ladder by people seeking to advance their own political ambitions,” he said.

“If your heart is not with Kalonzo, please leave early enough. If you do not support Kalonzo’s presidential ambition, do not hoodwink us and pretend to be with us. Just leave.”

The remarks appeared directed at aspirants eyeing the party’s ticket in the 2027 General Election and leaders perceived to be straddling political divides.

Kalonzo particularly expressed displeasure with Wiper MCAs in the Kitui county assembly, accusing some of openly fraternising with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance and the national government.

He urged Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, who attended the ceremony, to engage the MCAs and persuade them to return firmly to the Wiper fold. The former vice president warned that those who defy the party line risk being voted out in 2027.

He described it as the height of betrayal for leaders elected on the Wiper ticket in his Ukambani stronghold to turn against the party after securing office.

Kalonzo called on residents to “read the political mood” of the country, expressing confidence that he is poised to unseat Ruto in the next election. He argued that his prospects had been strengthened by his election as leader of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party.

Drawing parallels with the 2022 elections, he noted that leaders in Ruto’s Rift Valley backyard were elected on the UDA ticket when he won the presidency — a level of political unity he said Ukambani must emulate.

Kalonzo lamented that voters in the region often elect leaders from different parties, attributing it to what he termed a lack of confidence in their own.

“They even doubt whether their own Kalonzo can make it,” he said, urging members of the Kamba community to shed what he described as a doubting mentality and rally behind a single political vehicle ahead of 2027.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Kalonzo Musyoka’s hardline stance signals an early consolidation strategy ahead of 2027. By demanding loyalty or exit, he is attempting to stamp authority within Wiper and project strength in Ukambani, a region where divided political allegiances have previously weakened his bargaining power nationally.

His warning to MCAs seen as leaning toward President William Ruto’s UDA underscores anxiety over infiltration and shifting loyalties. However, the ultimatum carries risk: pushing out dissenters could shrink his internal base. Ultimately, Kalonzo is betting that unity at home will enhance his credibility as a serious presidential contender and negotiating force within Azimio.