Will Kalonzo Musyoka fire last political bullet in 2027?

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a church service at St Joseph the Worker Church in Racecourse, Nakuru City on December 1, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] Wiper Democratic Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka boasts over 40 years of experience in the political scene. With the 2027 General Election being a defining moment in his political career, Kalonzo is expected to make another stab at the Presidency. Kalonzo, 71, will most probably be firing his last political bullet in a do-or-die battle with President William Ruto. While the incumbent will be seeking reelection to serve a second term, Kalonzo will be seeking to actualize his dream of becoming not only the sixth president but making Ruto the first president under the 2010 constitution to serve one term. Kalonzo last gave a stab at the presidency in the 2007 election. The Wiper leader feels this is the best time to take over the reins of the country's leadership being the most experienced political leader in the country at the moment having moved up the ranks from being a Member of Parliament for Kitui North to Vice President under late President Mwai Kibaki. "If there is any leader with more experience than me, we can have a discussion, the 2027 general election is the best time for me to take over the country's leadership to turn it around for the better after which we will hand over leadership of the nation to the young generation when our term ends," said Kalonzo. Speaking during an Interview with a local channel at his Karen residence on Monday night, Kalonzo said that Ruto is mistakenly believing that if former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is out of the local political scene he will automatically inherit his supporters pointing out that less than 20 per cent of Kenyans approve the current administration. READ: Kalonzo Musyoka struggles to break free from Raila's political shadow He said that Ruto should be prepared to leave office in 2027 when Kenyans vote him out and should not imagine that the broad-based government he formed will propel his reelection. While arguing that Ruto's administration has failed Kenyans, Kalonzo said the time has run out for him to make any amends to regain citizens' trust. He said ODM leaders who joined the broad-based government did so on their own and that none of them would be elected to any position during the 2027 general election. According to him ODM party leader Raila Odinga who has taken a leave to focus on his African Union Commission Chairmanship bid had made it clear that the leaders from his party who joined the government did it on their own. "The opposition wanted compensation of families that lost their loved ones during the Gen Z protests before Azimio could sit down and agree on how to engage the government, I told Raila that on this matter he had been snookered, this whole thing was a machination by Ruto to create the impression ODM was now in government," said Kalonzo. He said recently an impression has been created to insinuate that former President Uhuru Kenyatta had endorsed some individuals to join Cabinet which was not the case pointing out that Raila had wanted a national convention after the Gen Z protests with individuals joining the government after consultation with Azimio giving its list as Ruto names his side too. While revealing that he is engaging other progressive leaders to come up with a formidable alliance, Kalonzo said Azimio la Umoja as it is, is a spent force and that they will need to come up with a new coalition in readiness for 2027 since they cannot move to the future with a limping organization. Raila Odinga chats with Kalonzo Musyoka during a consultative meeting at Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka Center. [File, Standard] He observed that he does not see how Raila will lose the African Union Commission Chairperson position and come back wanting to lead Azimio stating that if he wins it will be good for the country. He said in case of unforeseeable circumstances Raila loses he should honourably retire and join Uhuru in becoming an elder statesman. "When the broad-based government was formed I told Raila that this would work against his legacy and with this being a misstep in his political career asking him to look at ways of redeeming his image among Kenyans who had very high expectations in him but were now disillusioned after the doyen of the opposition politics appeared to work with government," said Kalonzo. He said that a loyal opposition would not allow the takeover of a strategic national asset like the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when it takes over the government saying that was the reason why he opposed the Adani deal which was later cancelled by Ruto most probably after getting new information from the United States of America. ALSO READ: Six reasons why Kenyans have lost confidence in Kalonzo Musyoka Kalonzo said he is aware that Raila is beholden to Ruto due to the support he needs from the government for his AUC Chairmanship bid otherwise he could have endorsed him as the Azimio leader terming it as the reason why the former Prime Minister has never said that Kalonzo should take over the leadership of Azimio. "I have always told Raila things that nobody else can tell him, I told him his legacy is at stake and he has to do something to redeem it, the same way he has told me things that nobody else has told me generally we have enjoyed a good relationship, we have no major differences," said Kalonzo. The former Vice President said that Kenyans want a regime that will take over and address basic issues like the integrity of simple things like someone's payslip and that it was worth noting that Ruto has happily agreed to be called Zakayo for overtaxing Kenyans and coming up with unpopular policies that have made life difficult for citizens. He said he will forever be indebted to Uhuru who recently told him that the problem with him is that he is too trusting which has led to him being played, highlighting the case of him being Raila's running mate in 2013 and 2017 and was not taken through an interview like in 2022 and believes that they won in both instances and robbed of their victory. "My word has always been my bond, but I know Kenyans have seen me as being selfless, I do not know how to betray my friends, I just do what I feel is right and good for the country which in most occasions works to my disadvantage, I took my interview for Azimio running mate position in 2022 in my stride despite holding the position in 2013 and 2017," said Kalonzo. He said that nobody should be allowed to steal the next general election because this is where the rain beats us, there were a clear 8 million of citizens who did not vote including the middle class and that it was time for all Kenyans to say no to over-taxation, abduction, stealing of our resources. He recalled hosting Uhuru, Ruto and Main Wanjigi at his home in 2012 when they had G7 where they came to persuade him not to vie in 2013 so that they could make him Speaker of the National Assembly not forgetting that at the time he was Vice President but he was blunt that he would not add any value to them wishing them well. ALSO READ: Kalonzo: The last man standing in Opposition, but for how long? Kalonzo said that Raila would visit him later in the company of former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama and former Kitui Senator David Musila where they asked him if there is anything that Raila had done that could make them not work together stating that the only time Raila irked him is when he was leading in opinion polls but Raila jokingly dismissed them as not being a beauty contest. He said that he does not believe in being endorsed for the 2027 general election arguing that Kenyans are tired of the 'Tosha' business but leaders proving that they deserve whatever position they seek believing that the experience he has gained in public service for the last 40 years puts him to be first among equals. "I do not have bad blood with my brother Muthama who was made UDA Chairman before being dropped later with some people believing that by doing that they would have finished me politically, there were those who believed that he was my financier but now the story is different, he is my brother and he can come back to me at any time," said Kalonzo He said that the late former President Daniel arap Moi should be given credit for leaving a legacy in the education sector and was gracious enough to hand over to late President Kibaki and that he made history by allowing the change from one-party to multi-party state when it was least expected.

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