Why Kalonzo, 67, the ‘young man of our village’ in Tseikuru, is growing very restless

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses party leaders at Mosocho on February 17, 2022. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

I take great exception to speculation in local media that former Vice President and Wiper chief, Man Steevo Kalonzo, aka Wiper, is considering joining the Azimio movement, which is led by opposition leader turned alleged “government project” Raila Odinga.

This follows their chance encounter at a coast hotel, where both had arrived, separately, and only met and breakfast. “Mheshimiwa Kalonzo was merely extending a courtesy,” an MP affiliated with Wiper told this writer.

“It was just that, nothing more, nothing less: Friends sitting to a breakfast and enjoying each other’s company,” the MP said.

He added that what made the reunion special was that the two had only seen each other in newspaper pictures for nearly two years, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

Pressed to explain if it was true the two leaders and their lieutenants talked from breakfast time to 2am, he said: “You can’t quote me on this, but if they stayed up till 2am, then I suspect they went to the kitchen to help in the cooking, perhaps to defray their boarding costs.

“These are hard times, I tell you,” he said, adding: “The two haven’t received a dime since they left office, years back. Their pension will only be paid if they retire from politics, which both have vowed not to.”

This declaration segues with other public pronouncements that the Wiper leader has made to clarify his political future. Renowned for his indecision, embodied in his unique hairstyle - the comb appears to push to the front to cover his advancing forehead, exposing a bald patch in the middle - Kalonzo faces a worse dilemma.

The once full shock of black hair is depleted and his pate is exposed. Similarly, he has to make a decision before time runs out. Kalonzo, 67, is no longer the young man of our village, as he was known in his backyard of Tseikuru, in Mwingi.