Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has urged President William Ruto to stop targeting retired his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and instead focus on those who will face him at the ballot in the 2027 General Election.
Mr Musyoka said political differences should be handled through democratic engagement rather than attacks on former political rivals.
He said he, too, had been angered by some of Mr Kenyatta’s political decisions but chose not to attack the former President.
Dr Musyoka spoke Sunday during a church service at St Michael’s All Angels Cathedral in Bondo, Siaya County, before holding rallies in Bondo town, Ndori, Akala and Kombewa as he continued his mobilisation drive in Nyanza.
Kalonzo Musyoka speaks to residents of Bondo, Siaya County, on September 27, 2026, during his visit to the area. He said the ideals championed by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga should be safeguarded.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation
He recalled his political partnership with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying he had supported Mr Odinga in three successive presidential elections despite disagreements over political decisions, including the choice of his running mate in 2022.
“Uhuru Kenyatta supported Raila in 2022. However, before, I was angry (with Uhuru) because Uhuru made me and Raila lose in 2013. We won, I must tell you this, we won. In 2017, we won,” Dr Musyoka said.
He said he was also unhappy when Mr Odinga settled on then Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua as his running mate in the 2022 election, a decision that initially prompted him to distance himself from the Azimio campaign before he later returned to the coalition.
“In 2022, brother Raila told me, ‘Wait, let’s now try this sister Karua.’ And Uhuru seemed to agree with him. So, I was a little unhappy with them. Please pray for me, Bishop, I was angry with them,” Dr Musyoka said.
Ms Karua was selected as Mr Odinga’s running mate in May 2022, while Dr Musyoka subsequently rejoined the Azimio campaign and pledged his support for the ticket.
Dr Musyoka said his differences with Mr Kenyatta did not justify continued political attacks on the retired President, particularly because Mr Kenyatta will not be a candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
“Now, look here, somebody comes and says, ‘I defeated Uhuru and his project.’ And that project was my brother Raila Odinga. Raila is not here with us,” he said.
He urged President Ruto to engage him and other political opponents directly instead of making Mr Kenyatta the focus of his political attacks.
“I want to advise my brother William Ruto, because at the end of the day, he’s a brother in Christ, or so I believe: if you want to deal with Uhuru Kenyatta, please recognise Uhuru will not be on the ballot against you,” Dr Musyoka said.
He said Mr Kenyatta had supported Mr Odinga in 2022, while he had also campaigned for the former Prime Minister because he believed Mr Odinga would have made a good president.
“Now, instead of getting involved with Uhuru Kenyatta, leave Uhuru alone, engage Kalonzo, but do it in a decent, democratic manner. And we’ll stand with you,” he said.
Dr Musyoka challenged President Ruto and the opposition to compete on the basis of democratic principles, saying the interests of the country should take precedence over political rivalries.
“If you defeat us, we may have to consider if you’ve behaved yourself. If we defeat you, we’ll have to look at all these things. Let’s look at each other, because we have a nation here, and God is no respecter of persons,” he said.
He also rejected claims that Mr Kenyatta was financing opposition activities, arguing that presidential campaigns require resources beyond the means of individual families.
“But here we are saying, please, let Uhuru rest, he is a retired president. If you want to attack him, stop saying he is a financier, he is not a financier of anything,” Dr Musyoka said.
The Wiper Patriotic Front party has also warned that the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is being compromised, urging Kenyans to defend the democratic ideals and constitutional reforms associated with his political struggle.
Raila Odinga (centre) and the top leadership of Azimio la Umoja address the media in Nairobi on September 15, 2023.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita
Dr Musyoka said Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s political reforms should not be reduced to his electoral campaigns, but understood through the broader struggle for constitutionalism, human rights, devolution, social justice and accountable government.
He said Raila’s political journey was closely linked to the push for a democratic Kenya, pointing to the 2010 Constitution as one of the key outcomes of that struggle.
Dr Musyoka cited the Constitution’s recognition of the people’s sovereignty and its commitment to human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law.
He argued that these principles were now under pressure, particularly over what he described as cases of abductions and alleged torture of young Kenyans perceived to hold views contrary to those of the government.
Dr Musyoka said the concerns should be viewed against the constitutional safeguards that were fought for during the struggle for political reform.
“We have been on the road, one way or the other, on my part, 15 political years, three political seasons, because I realised this brother had a clear message and I bought into that. And we have work to do, because Raila’s legacy is now getting compromised,” he said.
He urged Kenyans not to treat Raila’s death as the end of his political ideals, saying his legacy could only be preserved by defending the principles for which he fought.
“I ask you, my people, let us all join together. Let’s not just come and see that brother Raila left us and life continues normally. No, it can’t,” Dr Musyoka said.
He linked the struggle to the Constitution, arguing that Kenyans had a responsibility to ensure that the rights and freedoms contained in the document were respected.
Dr Musyoka said the Constitution itself recognised those who had “heroically struggled to bring freedom and justice” to Kenya, citing Raila and his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, among those who played a role in the country’s political struggle.
He said the upcoming commemoration of Raila should therefore go beyond ceremony and provide an opportunity for Kenyans to reflect on the former Prime Minister’s political ideals.
“Raila may be gone, but some of us have refused to get compromised, because if we do, there will be no nation,” he said.
DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa insisted that Mr Odinga won the 2022 presidential election, accusing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of doctoring the results.
“The results announced by the IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati were not credible and didn’t reflect the true feelings Kenyans,” he claimed.
Mr Wamalwa also accused President Ruto of disrespecting the memory of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, warning that the government should not seek to honour him while continuing to attack his political legacy.
Mr Wamalwa said President Ruto should acknowledge Mr Odinga’s contribution to Kenya’s political history instead of continuing to portray him as a political project that he defeated in the 2022 General Election.
He questioned how the President could claim to honour Mr Odinga while, in his view, continuing to undermine the former Prime Minister’s political legacy.
“You tortured him! You brutalised an old man while he was alive. We will not allow you, William Ruto, to disrespect Raila Odinga again,” Mr Wamalwa said.
He also took issue with President Ruto’s references to the political slogans “Tibim” and “Tialala”, saying the President should not seek to appropriate or dismiss a political movement whose influence extended beyond electoral politics.
“You cannot say that Raila is a project, and then say, ‘I won against that project,’ and even go on to finish the affairs of Tibim and Tialala. And then you come, pretending that in two weeks you’re coming to honour Raila. How do you honour Raila when you are disrespecting his memory?” Mr Wamalwa posed.
Justin Muturi, who also addressed the gathering, questioned remarks attributed to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen concerning the issuance of Kenyan identity cards to people living along the country’s borders.
The former Attorney-General said Kenyans should demand clarity on whether such initiatives could have implications for the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Now, William Ruto has calculated his vote tally, realised he is short, and now he is starting to seek ways to fetch votes from our neighbours,” Mr Muturi said.
He said the electoral authorities should establish the circumstances under which identity documents and voter registration services are being extended to people living across Kenya’s borders.
