Wiper leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka could be headed back to Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition.
In the latest twist of his back and forth moves, members of his Wiper Party voted to send him back to Raila Odinga-led coalition, where he’s assured the Chief Cabinet Minister position.
Musyoka, the son of Tsekuru in Mwingi, Eastern Kenya, and the former vice president, appears to be confused about his next political moves, and it’s taking a toll on Kenyans and his supporters. But his ardent supporters argue that their political savior is playing it safe, but is time really on their side?
The Wiper Democratic Party leader has repeatedly told his supporters that he’d run for the presidency in the August 9th elections, but looking at his past activities, we’re not so sure.
“I am saying today Raila Tosha [na] roho safi,” Kalonzo announced to a fully packed rally at the Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi. Earlier on the same day, he signed the pact with Azimio at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
In July last year, when One Kenya Alliance (OKA) – the coalition under whose umbrella the senior counsel is still banking to vie – was formed, Musyoka drummed up support for himself to be picked as the union’s presidential flag bearer. The other co-principal in the almost now defunct alliance were Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress), Moses Wetangula (FORD), and Gideon Moi (KANU). Wetangula and Mudavadi later jumped ship to join William Ruto, leaving Musyoka and Moi in OKA.
The two sons of Mulembe ditched OKA in a much-touted political earthquake that failed to live up to the hype in January this year, leaving Musyoka at crossroads.
Realizing that he was the only influential politician without a viable political home in the 2022 election season, political analysts and Kenyans raised Musyoka’s political currency and significance. Around this time, Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja coalition started wooing Musyoka.
Aware of his political value, Musyoka took his sweet time before giving in to any proposals from Odinga’s side. Like in oneitis, a phenomenon where a person has an unhealthy attraction to a single person, the Azimio camp’s interest in Musyoka grew stronger.
Perhaps due to pressure, on one sunny Saturday afternoon in March, the South Sudan peace envoy declared “Raila Tosha” at an Azimio rally attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
With the declaration, Musyoka effectively kissed his presidential ambitions goodbye, putting his weight behind Odinga’s 5th attempt at clinching the presidency and subordinating himself to him for a record 3rd time.
“I am saying today Raila Tosha [na] roho safi,” Kalonzo announced to a fully packed rally at the Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi. Earlier on the same day, he signed the pact with Azimio at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
“I believe Odinga will not fail us and the ticket we have given him. I was honestly thinking Raila will say Kalonzo Tosha this time round. But with a clean heart, I am here to say Raila Tosha for the third time,” Musyoka said.
Three days later, Musyoka shocked the country and particularly his followers when he said he didn’t understand what he had sighed with Azimio la Umoja coalition.
“There was nothing there; even you will agree with me what people signed at KICC. If I ask all those Secretary generals what they fixed their signatures to, probably nobody knows,” Musyoka said.
Later, Musyoka and his surrogates demanded that he be named Odinga’s running mate automatically, even without a vetting process. However, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance resolved to conduct interviews for the running mate position, which irked Musyoka. He said several times that he would not appear before the seven-member interview panel.
“I want to tell all Kenyans that I will not attend the said process. I find the entire thing demeaning to my person and will therefore distance myself from it,” Musyoka told the press.
However, he later changed tune and appeared before panels. He justified his change of mind as a move of respect.
“The decision to come was my decision because I realized that we didn’t want to give anyone an excuse whatsoever to say that I refused to come, so I am here,” he said.
“And if you look at the eminent persons and even the Bishops here, how could I have missed?”
However, a few days before Odinga announced the interview results, Kalonzo intimated that he would ditch Azimio and vie for the presidency under the Wiper banner, signaling he knew Odinga had not chosen him.
“So long as we have no confirmation of Kalonzo Musyoka as the running mate, then he will run. It is as simple as that. We’re going to run. He has to run. If he runs, then we are good to go. We will know what to do,” Makueni MP Dan Maanzo, a chief Musyoka ally, told the press.
And true to the threats, Musyoka gave Odinga’s running mate announcement ceremony a wide berth and announced the very day that he’d vie for the presidency. In a goodwill move, Odinga named Musyoka the chief minister in his kitchen cabinet if he clinched the presidency.
“If there is no faith, you can’t do business… For how long will we sacrifice, and even if we sacrifice, they mess up,” Musyoka said.
Musyoka chose Andrew Sunkuli as his running mate under the Wiper Party ticket and promised to move forward with launching his campaign.
However, a week later, Wiper Party officials have asked Musyoka to return to Azimio, signaling Musyoka’s imminent re-entry to the Odinga camp. The resolution was reached during a delegates’ meeting at Stoni Athi in Machakos County on Monday, May 23rd.
Nevertheless, on Monday, Sunkuli, Musyoka’s running mate, told the press they were still in the presidential race.
“Yes, we are on the ballot. That is why I’m here to represent my presidential candidate, who is outside the country on a private trip,” Sunkuli told the press while presenting their nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at Bomas of Kenya.
KENYAN’S EXPRESS SUPPORT AND FRUSTRATION
Kenyans and Musyoka’s supporters have expressed frustration and mixed reactions following the confusion, with others demanding a clear direction.
“Kalonzo deserves to have a stand of his own, not to be pushed around with some little promises. Vying independently is a victorious move because he has been in politics. Let him try his best,” Chepkorir said.
Andrew Mwanzia, a supporter of William Ruto’s presidential bid, said Musyoka is better placed to join the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“Man Stevo is caught up between the rock and hard place. However, joining Kenya kwanza is choosing a hard place and the better option. He should boldly join the winning team Kenya kwanza to enjoy his political sunset,” Mwanzia said.
Robin Chotii said the former vice president would lose it entirely due to his indecision.
“With the emergence of other political parties in the Ukambani region, he is at risk of losing the kingpin position he has held over the many years he has been politically active,” Chotii said.
Others feel that Musyoka’s moves are correct, and he should be allowed the space to choose what he deems best.
“Kalonzo is keen to take care of the Akamba people. He wants them to get a place at the negotiating table, and the only way he thinks he can achieve that is by playing “hard to get,” Ian Mbaka said.
Victor Mutisya also believes that Musyoka is doing the right thing.
“Go to Ukambani, and you’ll realize those other parties have got no numbers. All Kalonzo is doing is looking for a better deal with security because the Azimio guys are prone to conning people,” Mutisya said.
Maureen Chepkorir also believes Musyoka is right in his moves and that no one should push him.
“Kalonzo deserves to have a stand of his own, not to be pushed around with some little promises. Vying independently is a victorious move because he has been in politics. Let him try his best,” Chepkorir said.
On the other hand, Stacy Otieno, a business lady, thinks Musyoka is out to spoil the party for Raila Odinga.
“He did it in 2007, and he wants to do it again this year. You wonder what his problem with Raila is,” Otieno said.
Mack Mwarangu, a communication officer, said the former vice president should take advantage of the Azimio offer.
“His indecisiveness can be seen to temper his stature in the Mt Kenya East Region. It has taken the strong push of Akamba professionals to have Wiper back in the coalition and preserve the attractive 20 percent deal presented to them,” he said.