Kalonzo Announces Major Rebranding, Threatens Protests Over IEBC Delays

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has announced significant plans for his party's rebranding as part of an effort to forge a grand coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The announcement was made during his birthday celebration on Monday, where he voiced his commitment to addressing critical issues within the party, including a potential change of the party's name and the organization of a National Delegates Conference (NDC). Emphasizing the need for transformation, Kalonzo stated, "We are going to make sure we strengthen the party. You will be surprised by what I will announce within the year because I also want us to have a delegates conference."

The NDC, slated for next year, is intended to lay the groundwork for the party's rebranding efforts and strategize for future political engagements.
In addition to the internal reforms, Kalonzo has expressed intentions to build a new coalition aimed at promoting national salvation. His remarks include criticism of President William Ruto's administration, which he accuses of violating constitutional norms by the purported illegal impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Kalonzo asserts that the government is obstructing Gachagua's appeal against the impeachment, stating, "By impeaching Gachagua, Ruto should have been the first. Gachagua is also a Kenyan entitled to civic justice, first is treatment per the law." This recent development follows Kalonzo's earlier comments about forming a coalition with Gachagua and other opposition leaders, signifying a strategic effort to enhance his party's influence within the political framework.

Such moves not only aim to strengthen the Wiper party but also to establish a unified opposition capable of challenging the current administration. Kalonzo has also issued a strong ultimatum to President William Ruto regarding the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Musyoka declares that if Ruto does not appoint new commissioners by the end of March next year, he will instigate nationwide protests.

Musyoka states, "By the end of March if there will be no IEBC, I will go for demonstrations and those protests will not leave anyone standing."

His comments stress the ongoing tension surrounding the IEBC, which has been without commissioners for nearly two years. The delay has been attributed in part to a legal dispute initiated by opposition figures, including Musyoka himself. Adding to the political discourse, Augustus Kyalo Muli, the leader of the National Liberal Party (Kenya), has criticized the Wiper Party for hindering the commissioner's appointments.

He points to Wiper’s opposition to his nomination for the selection panel, which resulted in the nomination of Koki Muli as a candidate instead. In response, Musyoka maintains that his party had followed the required procedures and timelines set by the courts, reiterating that they submitted Koki Muli’s name as part of their adherence to these stipulations. He attributes the ongoing delays to what he refers to as state-sponsored interference.