Kalonzo Must Be on 2027 Ballot, Wiper Leaders Tell Opposition Partners

Tensions within Kenya’s united opposition coalition have escalated following a sharp pushback by Wiper Patriotic Front leaders against proposals to have former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka step down in favour of a younger presidential candidate.

The rift widened after Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy leader Cleophas Malala urged Mr Musyoka to abandon his presidential ambitions and support Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, 45, under an "Obama-Biden" style ticket.

Rejecting the proposal, Wiper leaders from the Coast region insisted that Mr Musyoka must be on the ballot in the August 2027 General Election, even if it means running independently outside the opposition alliance.

Speaking during party engagements, Wiper National Executive Committee member Omar Twaha accused opposition partners of treating Mr Musyoka unfairly despite his history of building anti-government coalitions.

"If we front Kalonzo as the party, we would disintegrate the opposition, and that is not our intention. Our goal is one, to remove President William Ruto from power, and so we must respect each other," Mr Twaha said.

The defiance highlights growing friction within the opposition ranks, where several figures, including Mr Sifuna, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang'i, are positioning themselves for the top ticket.

Wiper Coast chairperson John Chamia dismissed suggestions that Mr Musyoka could instead team up with the ruling administration as President Ruto's running mate.

"Whoever said Kalonzo will deputise Mr Ruto is dreaming. We can never even engage with him because Ruto and Kalonzo can never be together," Mr Chamia said.

Grassroots officials argued that Kalonzo previously backed the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in multiple contests, and that the opposition coalition should now reciprocate that support.

They also warned that government operatives were seeking to exploit these internal leadership squabbles to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 polls.

"Kalonzo was never born to be a running mate in every election. He supported the late Raila Odinga, and now it is time they support him. We are telling Kalonzo, as his supporters, that we do not want to hear that he is supporting someone else. We only want to see him on the ballot," one Wiper leader said.

Despite the firm stance on Kalonzo's candidacy, Wiper officials maintained that their primary focus remains defeating President Ruto in 2027, urging coalition partners to negotiate in good faith.