Kalonzo: I've Waited 20 Years, Now Support My Presidential Bid

Wiper Party Kalonzo Musyoka has declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 elections, rejecting support for any other candidates.

In an interview with Mulembe Nation radio stations on Thursday, the former Vice President highlighted the sacrifices he has made over the years, including stepping aside for Raila Odinga in past presidential bids. Musyoka highlights his tenure as Vice President during the Grand Coalition Government following the contentious 2007 election, asserting that he is now the most formidable candidate to take on President William Ruto.

"I have waited for 20 years. There comes a time when even the world acknowledges that it is your time," he stated, calling for collective support for his candidacy in the interest of the nation.

Reflecting on his political journey, Musyoka recounts his decision to withdraw from the 2002 presidential race to endorse Mwai Kibaki as the NARC candidate. He notes that his previous endorsements of Odinga in the 2013, 2017, and 2022 elections were strategic choices made after careful consideration of their potential impacts. Musyoka's declaration could prove pivotal in the dynamics of opposition politics as various parties attempt to unify against President Ruto's incumbent administration.

Currently, he is working alongside former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa to establish a coalition aimed at counteracting Ruto's political influence. The coalition seeks to integrate prominent figures such as former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, aiming to present a cohesive front with a single candidate. Kalonzo Musyoka has pledged to abolish the housing levy through an executive order if he is elected president in 2027.

He asserts that the 1.5 percent deduction from the gross salaries of formal sector employees is placing an undue financial burden on more than three million salaried Kenyans. Currently, salaried workers are faced with multiple deductions from their paychecks, including a 2.75 percent contribution for health insurance and an anticipated increase in National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions by the end of February. Musyoka argues that these taxes are not only excessive but also unjust, stating, “When we take over, the first executive order I will sign is to scrap the housing levy.”

He further highlights the challenges faced by workers, who endure considerable financial strain from mortgages and loans while still contending with the housing levy. The issue has emerged as a central theme in the buildup to the 2027 elections, with opposition leaders mobilizing to unite formal sector employees against the current tax structure. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has echoed Musyoka’s sentiments, promising to eliminate these deductions, particularly the housing levy, upon his party’s victory in the elections.

He criticizes the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General, Francis Atwoli, for not vocally defending workers against what he termed excessive taxation. In contrast, Atwoli has downplayed the potential impact of salaried employees on the electoral outcome, suggesting that the influence of formal sector workers is contingent on specific demographics.