City lawyer Donald Kipkorir has criticised supporters of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for heckling Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka during the launch of the Linda Mwananchi Movement headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi.
In an open memo to Sifuna, Kipkorir said the treatment of Kalonzo was wrong, warning that the senator would need support from across the country if he hoped to become President.
Kipkorir said he was impressed by Sifuna's decision to join the national leadership contest, describing his emergence as a young political leader as an encouraging development for African democracy.
He, however, cautioned that enthusiasm among the movement's supporters should not come at the expense of respect for other contenders who could become important allies in the opposition's quest to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
"However, though the enthusiasm of your members was expected, their treatment of my friend HE Kalonzo Musyoka, SC was wrong," Kipkorir said.
"Your supporters should know that you cannot be president unless you have support across the country. Without Kamba Nation support, being President will be very hard."
Kipkorir invoked African cultural values to emphasise the importance of respecting guests, regardless of their differences with the hosts.
"In African custom, once you invite guests, none should be mistreated even if they come with torn clothes," he said, quoting Nigerian author Chinua Achebe to reinforce his argument.
"Kalonzo Musyoka is a statesman. He deserves utmost respect. He deserves to be wooed not booed."
The lawyer's remarks followed an uncomfortable moment during Friday's launch when sections of the audience repeatedly interrupted Kalonzo's address with chants of "Sifuna! Sifuna!" and "President Sifuna".
The disruption started after Kalonzo took issue with Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa for declaring Sifuna the opposition's presidential candidate before the conclusion of consultations among the political formations.
Kalonzo insisted that the selection of a joint opposition presidential candidate must follow established procedures, pointing to November 13 as the date when discussions on the matter would take place.
"Let me tell you legally because you are a lawyer, you have to wait until the 13th of November, that's when we will talk with a fellow presidential candidate. He who is here is party leader," he said.
The crowd continued chanting even after Kalonzo indicated that he would support Sifuna if he emerged as the opposition's candidate.
The Wiper leader became visibly agitated and threatened to cut short his address, prompting Sifuna to intervene and appeal to his supporters to allow their guest to speak.
"One day you'll also find yourselves in Wiper offices, this is not how to treat our guest. Just let us listen to them, we have been honoured by their presence, let him finish, please," Sifuna said.
When he resumed, Kalonzo cautioned Sifuna supporters against allowing the excitement surrounding his political ambitions to override the need for consultation and maturity.
"I want my younger brother to follow the right procedure, nothing else. He could very well end up being the sixth president, but you must demonstrate maturity. You must allow proper consultation," he said.
He further warned that the opposition could undermine its own efforts if supporters allowed divisions to emerge before leaders had agreed on a common candidate.
"We must all prepare to sacrifice, my friends, the task ahead of us is so critical, so vital, that we must be prepared to sacrifice all that we have and speak with one voice. If we start this kind of behaviour I have witnessed, I must tell you, it will not work," he added.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya also condemned the heckling, urging supporters to accommodate leaders with differing political positions as the opposition pursues a common candidate.
He also suggested that the disruption could have been orchestrated by political opponents seeking to portray the opposition as divided, and asked opposition supporters and leaders to treat the episode as a non-issue.
"Even the media, this ends here. There's no need to exaggerate things," he said.
In his memo, Kipkorir also encouraged Sifuna to appreciate the significance of generational change in African politics, arguing that his emergence could demonstrate that young leaders can attain power through elections rather than military coups.
He quoted English poet William Wordsworth's famous lines, "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very Heaven," to describe the excitement surrounding a new generation entering national politics.
He concluded by urging Sifuna and his supporters to understand the importance of coalition-building and maintaining relationships with other opposition leaders.
