Kalonzo to United Opposition: Abandon united front and you will be punished
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has warned opposition leaders against abandoning their political alliance or joining the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying such a move would amount to betraying Kenyans seeking change ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr Musyoka said opposition leaders must remain united and avoid pursuing individual political interests as they work to build a formidable alliance capable of challenging President William Ruto in the next election.
He likened leaders who abandon the opposition to Lot’s wife in the Bible, who looked back despite being warned not to and was turned into a pillar of salt.
“My colleagues in the opposition, led by Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, Edwin Sifuna, James Orengo, young man Babu Owino, who will be the Nairobi governor, and Justin Muturi, if we all agree and unite… and I want to assure you that we are united and have agreed… if one of us decides to go back, he or she will turn into salt,” said Mr Musyoka.
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He said opposition leaders would betray Kenyans if they abandoned the alliance for individual political interests.
“You cannot betray Kenyans who are yearning for change. Kenyans have suffered enough,” said Mr Musyoka in Kakuyuni, Kilifi County, where he formally received former Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa into the Wiper Patriotic Front.
He welcomed Ms Jumwa to the party and assured her of his support for the Kilifi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election.
Mr Musyoka said the opposition needed to strengthen its presence at the Coast and across the country as it prepares for the next poll.
“We want to unite this country and oust the current administration. Even residents of Baringo and Bomet want Dr Ruto to serve only one term,” he said.
The Wiper leader also urged young people who have attained the voting age of 18 to take advantage of the planned mass registration exercise in November to obtain national identification cards and subsequently register as voters.
“Those who have attained the age of 18, please go and get IDs and register as voters. This is the final mass registration,” he said.
Mr Musyoka said a high number of registered voters would give Kenyans greater power to determine the country’s political leadership in 2027.
He also raised concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence to create and circulate misleading information about political leaders.
Referring to discussions on AI in the justice system during the Law Society of Kenya annual conference in Diani on August 13, 2026, Mr Musyoka said technology could be manipulated to create false impressions about public figures.
He narrated an incident in which an AI-generated image allegedly placed him at a ceremony involving President Ruto’s daughter last week, despite his absence.
“I never attended that ceremony, but AI had captured my image there and people believed it. When there was a national blackout, others claimed Mr Musyoka and President Ruto were meeting. Please don’t believe such rumours. It is important to highlight these things,” he said.
Mr Musyoka warned Kenyans to be cautious when consuming information shared on social media, saying advances in artificial intelligence could make it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine photographs and information from fabricated content.
“As it is, AI has many advantages, but social media has a lot of rumours,” he said.
He urged those who supported the late ODM leader Raila Odinga to support the opposition alliance.
“If you go to Luo Nyanza, you will be surprised; they understand our politics, even Governor Orengo. Kenya wants Dr Ruto to serve for only one term,” he said.
Mr Musyoka said Ms Jumwa would bring “oomph” to the opposition.
Ms Jumwa said she would campaign for the opposition and warned the region against electing candidates affiliated with broad-based political parties.
“We have drawn a line. No more broad-based in Kilifi County because they are betrayers. I know Wiper is a democratic party,” she said, promising to “paint the region blue.”
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