Opposition slams Ruto over Safaricom sale without public input

From left: United Opposition leaders Eugene Wamalwa, Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua address a press briefing in Nairobi, on November 27, 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have accused President William Ruto of authorising the sale of government shares in the telecommunications giant Safaricom without public participation.

Kalonzo and Gachagua claimed that Kenyans stand to lose more than Sh250 billion in the transaction, arguing that the value of the shares has been under quoted, with a single share being sold at Sh34 despite a market value of Sh70. They allege that powerful individuals are seeking personal gain from the controversial deal.

Kalonzo stated that the opposition has assembled a team of advocates who will file a petition to halt the sale of Safaricom Limited. He argued that the sale was clearly intended to deprive Kenyans of their rightful wealth.

“We have a team of over 100 advocates who are going to file a serious petition challenging the sale of the government stake in Safaricom Limited, since it is being conducted without public participation and it is apparent someone is going to benefit from this shady deal worth billions of shillings,” said Kalonzo.

Speaking during a church service at Dominion Church in Kasarani in Nairobi on Sunday, the two leaders accused the President of selling government agencies to private investors in a suspicious manner, which they said suggested corrupt intent.

Gachagua claimed that the Mau Summit–Rironi Road project, initially estimated to cost Sh150 billion and intended for French investors, was instead awarded to “some Chinese investors” at Sh200 billion. He argued that Kenyans would lose Sh50 billion during the loan repayment process. “Ruto is selling Safaricom and intends to sell Kenya Pipeline Company, Kenya Ports Authority, our airports, and other agencies. All of this is being done without public participation, which raises serious questions about the government’s true intentions,” said Gachagua.

He added that the opposition would field a single presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, emphasising that efforts by Ruto to win over Kalonzo would not succeed.

Clarifying earlier contentious remarks, Gachagua said that in Nairobi, DCP, Wiper, and DAP-K will work together to secure all electoral seats in the city. He explained that Wiper has long supported the ODM Party in Nairobi and that this time, they intend to collaborate to ensure Kenya Kwanza does not win a single seat in the capital. “Last week I spoke about the opposition taking all seats in Nairobi, but some individuals attempted to distort my comments. Where DCP is popular, it will be supported; where WPF is popular, we will support it. We are even calling on ODM to collaborate with the opposition for the good of the country,” said Gachagua.

He warned ODM leaders not to allow the party to be absorbed by the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying it is better to work with other opposition allies to “liberate the country from the shackles of poor leadership seen over the last three years.”

Kalonzo defended Gachagua against allegations of creating divisions by using the term “cousins”. He said citizens were united and that only a few leaders are sowing discord.

He further argued that citizens are currently under significant stress due to unemployment and rising costs of basic commodities under the Kenya Kwanza administration, and that the only remedy is to remove it from office in the next General Election – a goal the opposition is committed to achieving.

“Nairobi is the face of Kenya, which is why we want every community represented in leadership. That is why I am engaging my brother Gachagua and other leaders to ensure the best leaders are elected in the coming General Election,” said Kalonzo.