At the recent Law Society of Kenya annual conference in Diani, the organisers added a roar to the bellowing mockery of opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
A former vice president, former presidential candidate, leader of Wiper Democratic Movement and two-time presidential ticket runner-up, Kalonzo was invited as a guest to the gala dinner, which Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was headlining as the chief guest.
Sifuna, a rising star in opposition politics, is way junior to Kalonzo in political and professional rank. In the law profession, whose members were congregating in Diani, Kalonzo is a Senior Counsel. His admission to the bar predates Sifuna's birth.
But the Nairobi senator compensates his relatively younger professional profile with an illustrious career in LSK politics and masterclass in audacity. In 2016, Sifuna motor-mouthed his way into becoming the 'Okoa LSK' de facto leader, and a Council Member.
In politics, Sifuna was barely out of his nappies when Musyoka made a debut in parliament in 1985. He proceeded to serve as a Cabinet minister in various ministries, rising to the position of vice president in 2008.
Kalonzo now serves as the leader of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, after taking over from Sifuna’s late party leader, Raila Odinga.
Until recently, Sifuna was one of the longest-serving secretaries general of the most popular and oldest political party in Kenya’s recent history, the Orange Democratic Movement.
He commands unmistakable stage presence, easily out-talks competitors and is unarguably the biggest political beneficiary of Raila’s exit from the political scene.
Still, by any standard of protocol, there was just no way Sifuna was going to bypass Kalonzo as chief guest. But he did, courtesy of the organisers who clearly opted for vibe over seniority.
The move, however, is vintage Kenyan politics. Kalonzo has practically built his career on a foundation of slights. Former president Daniel arap Moi did not believe Kalonzo could marshal a serious political rebellion in Ukambani in the run-up to the 2002 general election.
The self-proclaimed professor of politics was in for a rude shock when Kalonzo delivered the entire Ukambani vote to the rainbow revolution.
In 2007, Raila slighted him within ODM-K politics and paid the ultimate prize at the ballot. To this date, many people still misguidedly argue that Kalonzo denied Raila an outright win in that election.
They forget that competitive politics is not a game of subservience. Every competitor walks into the starting blocks to run their own race. They don’t enter a race to pace the favourite.
In the run-up to the 2013 presidential election, former President Uhuru Kenyatta stubbed out a cigarette outside Kalonzo’s own compound, offering the country’s vice president a downgrade position of Speaker of the National Assembly.
Rejected, after running around for the dynamic duo, Kalonzo cast his lots with Raila. The Jubilee pair scored a narrow victory. Again, it was claimed that he denied Jubilee an outright win, whose other saving grace turned out to be the Supreme Court.
By 2017, Kalonzo endured sustained bullying from ODM zealots to back Raila for the second time. He did so at a great cost to his pride and time, and upon Raila’s promise of “last bullet” attempt.
They lost in the ballot and won in court before Raila refused to participate in the repeat election. Raila swore himself in as the people’s president before cutting a handshake deal with President Kenyatta, all without his deputy.
For the period between 2017 and 2022, Kalonzo remained the favourite punching bag of frustrated Raila supporters. The climax came when Raila bypassed him for Martha Karua as a running mate.
The Wiper leader wiped his tears with a warning that they would lose big. True to his words, they were all buried alive by William Ruto.
Kalonzo’s journey had been characterised by a good-boy image and tactical retreats often mistaken for cowardice. Beneath this facade lies a steely, politically ruthless survivor.
In the prophetic words of the late Mutula Kilonzo, Kalonzo may be Kenya’s worst-kept political secret. At his absolute best, he could be the king; at his ordinary best, a kingmaker. At his absolute worst, however, he could unmake a king.
Advocate of the High Court and a Senior Project Manager with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The views expressed here are his own
