Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is set to storm the Coast this weekend, days after President William Ruto wrapped up an extensive tour of the region.
Kalonzo’s offensive in the Coast is seen as a fresh contest for political influence following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who controlled the region.
The Wiper boss will begin his two-day tour on Friday with rallies in Changamwe and Mwembe Tayari.
“Mombasa, get ready for the wave. Wantam (one-term) is inevitable. Ukombozi umefika Mombasa (liberation has reached Mombasa),” Kalonzo said.
The former Vice President will on Sunday convene a meeting with politicians seeking the Wiper ticket in the region as he moves to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures.
He will then move to Junda, Mwisho, Kisauni and Shanzu, where he will address supporters as he concludes his two-day tour of Mombasa.
The tour came against the backdrop of Ruto’s eight-day Coast visit, covering Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu.
The trip also came hours after Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i concluded a five-day tour of the Coast.
Matiang’i launched his Coast engagements on Monday.
The President used the tour to showcase development projects, issue title deeds and promote major investments, including the proposed Sh2.2 trillion East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu.
The timing of Kalonzo’s visit highlights the growing political importance of the region as rival camps seek to consolidate support previously associated with former ODM leader Raila Odinga (deceased).
For years, the Raila enjoyed a strong following across the Coast.
In the 2022 presidential election, Raila secured 649,913 votes in the six Coast counties against Ruto’s 336,478, according to IEBC 2022 presidential election results.
The region had about 1.96 million registered voters at the time.
With Raila no longer in the political equation, both Ruto and opposition leaders are seeking to inherit the region to boost their 2027 ballot chances.
Kalonzo has already made notable inroads by recruiting politicians who were previously closely associated with Ruto’s political camp.
Among his most prominent recruits are former CS Aisha Jumwa and Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, two politicians who played prominent roles in Ruto’s 2022 campaign.
Jumwa joined Wiper after leaving the United Democratic Alliance and is expected to seek the Kilifi governor seat on the party’s ticket.
Kalonzo has also proposed her for the position of Wiper deputy party leader.
Ali was appointed Wiper deputy party leader-designate in August, giving the party two high-profile Coast politicians with established grassroots networks.
The recruitment of the two leaders has strengthened Kalonzo’s attempt to establish Wiper as a major political vehicle at the Coast as opposition parties compete for the space previously occupied by Raila and ODM.
Makueni MP Dan Maanzo, a close Kalonzo ally, said the Wiper leader has goodwill in the coastal region and his visit is meant to consolidate the region.
“The visit is key and we are encouraged by the reception we are receiving in the entire Coast region,” he told the Star.
Ruto, meanwhile, has intensified his own efforts to deepen support in the region, with land reforms, infrastructure and investment forming the centrepiece of his recent engagements.
The Coast has historically leaned towards the opposition, making it an important political battleground as the 2027 election approaches.
