Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka has declared that he is no longer going to play second fiddle in Kenyan politics.
Kalonzo, who has served as a running mate three times in a row, says 2027 will be different.
Speaking on a local TV interview, he shut down speculation that he could be lured into joining President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp or back another candidate.
“I don’t think I would be a running mate in 2027. I will tell you why. Some of my supporters, a majority of them, and that is why this administration is vexed with the dream that Kalonzo Musyoka will join Kenya Kwanza; the bloggers are on a full-scale mandate to make it happen, but I tell them, ‘Please stop wasting your time.’ It is too late for any games to be played against me,” Kalonzo said.
For a man long branded as the “perennial running mate,” this was a defining statement. Kalonzo insisted that his political career has been built on sacrifice, but this time, compromise is not on the table.
“In my entire personality, I have sacrificed, but I can’t sacrifice enough for this country. We have a higher idea of getting this nation back to its feet, and if that be the case, I pray to God my colleagues will see it,” he said.
The declaration signals a major turning point in opposition politics. With Raila Odinga out of the 2027 race, attention has shifted to who will emerge as the main challenger to President Ruto.
Kalonzo’s decision to lock himself out of deputy roles adds pressure on the opposition to unite or risk fragmentation.
Kalonzo, 71, has been a fixture in Kenyan politics for decades. He served as the country’s Vice President between 2008 and 2013 and has previously run for president.
Despite his experience, critics have often accused him of hesitating at critical moments, a label he now appears determined to shake off.
The wider opposition field is crowded. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in 2024 but has since declared his 2027 presidential bid, is working to rally a new coalition.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has been engaging in quiet consultations with opposition leaders. Martha Karua has ruled out being anyone’s deputy and says she will not seek elective office in 2027, though she continues to push for unity. Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, meanwhile, remains a steady figure in coalition talks.
Earlier this year, Kalonzo, Gachagua, Karua, Matiang’i, and Wamalwa held a rare joint meeting, fueling speculation of a grand opposition front.
Whether such an alliance can survive competing ambitions remains the biggest question as the countdown to 2027 intensifies.
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