How Kalonzo's VP Position Led to His 'Watermelon' Nickname

In the aftermath of Kenya's 2007 election, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka emerged as an unexpected choice for vice president under Mwai Kibaki's leadership.

This decision, intended to stabilize a nation on the brink of collapse, paradoxically intensified the ethnic tensions and political divisions plaguing the country. Raila Odinga's supporters, convinced of electoral fraud, viewed Kalonzo's appointment as a final affront to their cause. Kalonzo's elevation to the vice presidency was a strategic manoeuvre by Kibaki's administration. While it lent an air of legitimacy to the government, it simultaneously undermined the delicate power-sharing negotiations led by international mediators. Kalonzo, whose ODM-Kenya party had secured third place in the hotly contested election, found himself thrust into a political maelstrom, aligning with forces he had previously opposed.

The political landscape shifted dramatically for Kalonzo following the election. After casting his vote in his rural hometown of Tseikuru, he remained there, unaware of the crucial role he was about to play in Kenya's political future. As the nation descended into crisis, a crucial phone call from Kibaki's strategist Stanley Murage set the wheels in motion for Kalonzo's ascension to the vice presidency. Initially hesitant due to past betrayals, Kalonzo found himself at the centre of a political tug-of-war between Kibaki and Odinga's camps. His attempt at neutrality proved untenable as ethnic violence spread across the country.

Ultimately, Kalonzo chose to align with Kibaki's government, entrusting the negotiation of cabinet positions to his confidants. Kalonzo's appointment as vice president sent shockwaves through the political establishment. It complicated Kibaki's attempts to engage with Odinga, who viewed the move as a ploy to undermine international mediation efforts. The subsequent formation of the Grand Coalition Government, brokered by Kofi Annan, saw Odinga assume the newly created role of prime minister while Kalonzo retained his position as vice president.

The Grand Coalition Government was a delicate balancing act, with equal representation from pro-Kibaki and pro-Odinga factions. However, tensions persisted, particularly regarding the pecking order within the government. Throughout his tenure, Kalonzo faced several challenges with critics labeling him "Watermelon," implying a tendency to move between political forces. Despite these challenges, Kalonzo carved out a role for himself as Kenya's "shuttle diplomat," advocating for the nation's interests on the international stage. This role, while affording him international respect, was seen by some as a means to sideline him from domestic affairs.

His relationship with President Kibaki remained cordial, though his interactions with Odinga were often fraught with tension. In an ironic turn of events, Kalonzo would later support Odinga's presidential bid, despite their complicated history during the Grand Coalition Government.