Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has found himself at the centre of two competing political calculations of either pursuing his long-held presidential ambition or agreeing to a political cooperation with President William Ruto.
President Ruto has made open overtures targeting the 73-year-old politician, with analysts seeing the bait as intended to exploit uncertainty over Mr Musyoka’s chances of securing the opposition presidential ticket.
The emergence of Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) leader Edwin Sifuna and other opposition players has complicated the battle for the opposition presidential ticket, which was previously seen as Mr Musyoka’s for the taking.
The opposition is now facing competing interests and ambitions, with each outfit pushing to have its candidate lead the ticket.
Although teaming up with Dr Ruto does not guarantee him a plum role like the running mate slot, remaining in the opposition to pursue his presidential bid is also replete with significant risks, including missing out on the presidential ticket.
For a 73-year-old politician who contested for the presidency in 2007 and twice served as the late Raila Odinga’s running mate in 2013 and 2017, the prospect of another election cycle without a presidential ticket could present a major blow to his political career of about 40 years.
Mr Musyoka and his allies are already feeling frustrated after their suggestion for an early resolution on the presidential ticket was rejected.
Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) Party leader Edwin Sifuna (second right) with Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua (right), Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka (second left), LMM deputy party leader Faith Odhiambo at the party headquarters in Nairobi on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Both Mr Sifuna and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua want the decision delayed, arguing that early naming could be exploited by Dr Ruto to divide the opposition.
And on Saturday, key lieutenants in the Ruto camp—Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, and the President’s aide, Farouk Kibet—appeared to let the cat out of the bag, publicly asking Mr Musyoka to cross over to the ruling side.
“Kalonzo should no longer waste his time with the opposition leaders as they have shown him where he belongs in their scheme of politics ahead of the next general election. He should bolt out and join hands with President William Ruto,” Mr Murkomen said during a women empowerment forum at Laluk village in Amalo sub county, Narok West constituency, Narok County on Saturday.
He said “Kalonzo is welcome to the government, where his political and diplomatic experience will be respected.”
Senator Cheruiyot said the opposition should stop lying to Kenyans that they had the ability to beat President Ruto in the 2027 general election, and instead focus on the 2032 poll.
“Kalonzo should know by now that he will be humiliated by the opposition in the days ahead. The opposition leaders are a disorganised lot, cannot match President Ruto’s organisational skills and ability,” Mr Cheruiyot said.
Mr Kibet, on the other hand, said the former vice president’s best bet is working with President Ruto’s side where he said he will be respected.
“What Kalonzo should know is that he is welcome to work with President Ruto. We cannot beg him to work with us, but if he is okay where he is (opposition) that is fine by us. But if he wants respect, you are welcome to join us in government” Mr Kibet said.
Mr Musyoka’s allies, however, insist that the former vice president is the only threat to Dr Ruto’s re-election plan. While admitting attempts to woo him, the Wiper politicians say Mr Musyoka has no intention of abandoning his presidential bid to join Dr Ruto. They described the broad-based government as a sinking ship that Mr Musyoka cannot join.
In their view, the sustained discussion of Mr Musyoka joining the government is meant to create confusion and uncertainty among opposition supporters. It does not help that within the opposition, some top leaders have labelled others moles and state agents, who are just buying time before they can team up with Dr Ruto or split the opposition vote by running on their own to help the President secure another term.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and his wife Pastor Dorcas Rigathi welcome Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka at their Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County on October 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Mwangi Muiruri | Nation Media Group
“President Ruto is the primary consumer of the country’s top intelligence briefs. He knows that Kalonzo Musyoka is his greatest threat on the ballot for the August 10, 2027 presidential contest. He is keen on being on the ballot to defeat Ruto in the presidential contest,” says Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua.
Mr Musyoka has for successive elections maintained a strong grip of his Ukambani base. He has in the past successfully delivered the region to Mr Odinga. His strong influence also explains why Dr Ruto is keen on having him on his side.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the three Ukambani counties have a projection of 2.2 million votes by 2027. Mr Musyoka also enjoys support in other parts of the country, making him a crucial player in the 2027 arithmetic.
“This explains the latest panic and confusion in the president’s corner. In their state of confusion and panic, the president’s men are blowing hot and cold in their reference to my party leader. Some are insulting and praising him in equal measure; others are humiliating and validating him in equal measure,” says Mr Wambua.
It is not the first time Dr Ruto is reaching out to Mr Musyoka. Mid last year, Dr Ruto disclosed how he turned to Mr Odinga in forming the broad-based government after Mr Musyoka rejected his offer.
“After we were done with the 2022 elections, I reached out to Mr Musyoka before reaching out to Mr Odinga but he turned down my offer,” the President said on May 22, 2025 during a State House meeting with Ukambani professionals.
Last week while touring Mr Musyoka’s Tseikuru backyard, President Ruto once again appeared to make similar overtures. The President appeared ‘sympathetic’ to the Wiper leader, citing what he described as humiliation by his political allies.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, accompanied by party leadership, addresses the media at the party headquarters in Nairobi on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“They took him through an interview in 2022. You saw him being asked about his personal details and his achievements. That was humiliation. These people are used to humiliating Kalonzo. The same people who organised the interview in 2022 are planning another one soon. Instead of Kalonzo going for another interview, he should join me,” Dr Ruto said, saying he had campaigned in 1992 and he should “return the favour” in 2027.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua suggested that they have opted to reach out to Mr Musyoka to rescue him from a possible political isolation.
“From where we sit, Kalonzo is being tricked. His chances of being picked as the presidential candidate or the running mate are slim. Ukambani is saying he needs to act up. The signal the President was sending was that he is ready to work with him and anybody interested in development and not tribalism,” said Dr Mutua.
UDA Organising Secretary and Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya says Mr Musyoka will soon find a reason to work with Dr Ruto or go it alone since ‘he is unwanted in the opposition’.
“Kalonzo coming onboard would of course, boost our numbers. We are telling him that he is in the wrong camp. They are using delaying tactics to frustrate him, but they will not support him. I am convinced that by the time we go to the ballot, Kalonzo will find a reason to work with us or go it alone,” says Mr Kawaya.
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi accuses the President of engaging in a political mind game to cause confusion and tension in the opposition. He says the President has developed a tendency to pick on one opposition leader at a time to discredit as part of his broader agenda to cause tension within the opposition.
“The intention is to make that leader’s supporters excited and to think that theirs is the one Ruto fears most. He then picks on another a week later and does the same to elicit similar reactions from his supporters,” observes Mr Muturi.
He explains that the strategy intends to make supporters of each candidate reject any concessions in settling on one flag bearer.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo says Wiper will not accept any attempts to have its leader distracted from the bigger goal of going for the top seat. He described the broad-based as a sinking ship that no one would willingly jump into.
President William Ruto and Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka.
Photo credit: File | Nation
“We can never accept such overtures. We are going all the way to the wire. It is not about Kalonzo but the country and the people. We are going to soldier on because it is only Kalonzo who can send Ruto home,” says Senator Maanzo.
“Kalonzo is looking for the presidency to lead the country. That mission does not involve working with Ruto,” he said. “Those attempts (to woo Kalonzo) have been there. But you cannot win over someone by insulting them. The strategy they are using is not of a serious person. When he is out of Ukambani he uses insulting and demeaning language.”
However, Prof David Monda – a US-based political analyst – says Mr Musyoka is the most likely to defect to Dr Ruto if he is not the head of the opposition presidential ticket.
“Secondly, his supporters think this is the last opportunity in his long career in politics, which he might never have again. They want him to lead the presidential ticket,” says Prof Monda.
Prof Macharia Munene – another political analyst and university don – described all the opposition principals as the weakest links in the formation. He says the opposition is facing a contest of egos as no principal is willing to back off in favour of a single candidate.
“Kalonzo had a good beginning, but it is somehow slipping under his feet. New people are coming in, who are very attractive. People like Sifuna and Gachagua,” says Prof Macharia.
He says the state seems to be keen on triggering political tension between Mr Sifuna and Mr Musyoka since they are seen as the likely pair for the opposition.
Mr Musyoka served as the late Mwai Kibaki’s vice president between 2008 and 2013 after emerging a distant third in the contested 2007 general election.
Mr Kibaki’s win was widely disputed, leading to the formation of the grand coalition government, in which Mr Odinga served as Prime Minister and Mr Musyoka as Vice President
Mr Musyoka would later, in 2013, 2017 and 2022, drop his presidential ambition in support of Mr Odinga. He was Mr Odinga’s running mate in both 2013 and 2017, but was in 2022 dropped in favour of People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua.
In a previous interview with the Nation, Mr Musyoka said dropping his presidential bid in 2027 would mean retiring from active politics.
“I was ready to be president in 2002 when we said Kibaki Tosha. I was ready in 2013 to move from being vice president to president of the republic. In 2022 I said to my brother Raila Odinga and my sister Martha Karua, ‘I will support you’. Completely selfless.”
“Giving up my presidential ambition would actually mean I go home. It is as simple as that,” he said on December 31, 2023.
