Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka/FILEWiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has ruled out a political handshake with President William Ruto, declaring that his next engagement with the President will be at the ballot in the 2027 General Election.
As Kenya entered the 2027 election cycle, Kalonzo said the opposition would not enter into a power-sharing arrangement with Ruto.
Kalonzo said exactly 365 days remained before the 2027 General Election, urging his supporters to use the period to mobilise and organise for a decisive political contest.
“And so, to William Ruto, we say this plainly: the only national conversation Kenyans shall have with you is at the ballot on August 10, 2027. There will be no handshake. No nusu-mkate. Count the days,” Kalonzo said.
“For the next 365 days, wazalendo wenzangu, we mobilise. We organise. We build, county by county, ward by ward, until this movement becomes unstoppable.”
The Wiper leader accused the current administration of failing to deliver on promises made to Kenyans, citing healthcare, education, the cost of living and unemployment among young people.
He criticised the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), claiming that the reforms had left Kenyans paying more for healthcare while struggling to access services.
Kalonzo also attacked the government's economic agenda, saying successive rebranding of its programmes had not changed the situation facing ordinary Kenyans.
“Hustler Nation became Bottom-Up. Bottom-Up became the Singapore Dream. Now we are asked to believe in a Vision 2060, as though changing the label might change what is served at the table,” he said.
He accused the government of undermining independent constitutional institutions, including Parliament, the police, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
As he drew the battle lines for 2027, Kalonzo unveiled a 13-point programme he termed the People’s Budget, which he said would form the basis of his alternative government.
The agenda includes universal healthcare, free and quality education, a living wage and dignified employment, food security, tax justice and stronger devolution.
It also proposes youth and women empowerment, infrastructure and housing, social protection, climate justice, zero tolerance for corruption and national unity and reconciliation.
“This is the covenant we offer the people of Kenya,” Kalonzo said.
He said the programme was intended to address the challenges facing ordinary Kenyans and provide an alternative to the current administration.
Kalonzo called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to guarantee a free and fair election in 2027.
He urged IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon and the commission to remain independent, transparent and accountable to voters.
Kalonzo condemned political violence and called for political differences to be resolved through the ballot.
He also demanded transparency in campaign financing, saying Kenyans had a right to know who funds political campaigns.
“There will be no manufactured crisis, no invented excuse, no threat spoken or merely implied to delay or deny this election its rightful date,” he said.
Kalonzo said his United Alternative Government in Waiting would spend the next year building its political machinery across the country.
“Three hundred and sixty-five days from today, wazalendo wenzangu, we shall shoot Ruto at the ballot. Together, we shall Komboa Kenya,” he said.
