Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed the recent political agreement between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, arguing that it is too late to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

Speaking during the burial of Simon Ole Saitoti in Purko Ward, Kajiado Central constituency on Thursday, March 13, 2025, Kalonzo accused the government of misleading Kenyans, saying the recommendations should have been implemented a year ago.

He urged citizens not to be fooled by promises of implementing NADCO recommendations more than a year after the committee concluded its work.

“Kenyans, don’t be deceived that there is anything they can implement from the National Dialogue (NADCO) one year after. Had they implemented the recommendations by March last year, young people would not have been killed,” Kalonzo said.

The former vice president argued that if the recommendations had been implemented in a timely manner, the Gen-Z demonstrations that rocked the country would not have occurred.

“If they had implemented those recommendations, the Gen-Z revolution would not have happened. Two years later, some of these recommendations require a clear referendum, such as determining party leadership representation in Parliament or who will be Prime Minister. These things require a referendum, so let’s stop misleading patriotic Kenyans that anything can happen,” he added.

Kalonzo also urged the government to prioritize justice for victims of police brutality, asserting that security officers responsible for extrajudicial killings should be held accountable before any compensation is considered.

“We agreed on many things, but we said one thing – ensure that young people who were arbitrarily killed by police bullets in 2023 receive compensation. But before compensation, the officers responsible for shooting them, including someone called Adamson Bungei [former Nairobi Police Boss] and his colleagues, should be arrested and taken to court. That’s how Kenyans will know if the signatures they put on that agreement mean anything,” Kalonzo stated.

Betrayal

In a previous address on March 7, 2025, Kalonzo described Raila’s alliance with Ruto as the greatest betrayal of Kenyans.

“What has come out of KICC today is the biggest betrayal of Kenyans. The People’s Loyal Coalition will never betray Kenyans for temporary comfort,” he stated.

Kalonzo pointed out that if Raila fails to advocate for compensation for those killed and injured during the Finance Bill protests, it would constitute a betrayal.

“If out of what they are signing at KICC, they do not come with a formula on how to address the injustice meted on Kenyans on June 25 and 2023, that will be the betrayal in the city. Handshake or no handshake, Ruto must go,” he said.

Raila’s defence

Speaking at the burial of Lewis Wilkinson Kimani Waiyaki on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Raila defended the political agreement with Ruto, asserting that it was Ruto who approached him, not the other way around.

“Many people are making noise here and there that Raila has gone to Ruto, that I have abandoned them. I have not gone to Ruto; he came to me,” Raila stated.

The veteran opposition leader maintained that his core principles remain unchanged despite the new political arrangement.

“I have remained steadfast; my stance has not changed. The most important thing since I was born until now is that I have been fighting for the rights of all Kenyans,” he said.

He noted that the formation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) was a response to those protests and emphasized that the critical issues raised during that time remain unresolved, forming the basis of his current agreement with President Ruto.

“We have said that sensitive issues remain unaddressed until they are resolved. But they cannot be resolved if people do not come together to talk and look at how things should be,” Raila explained.

Raila urged Kenyans to give the agreement a chance, emphasizing that the opposition’s core demands were acknowledged in the document signed with Ruto’s administration.

He asserted that the agreement presents an opportunity for reform ahead of the next general election.

“You have seen what we have written – all ten items are what we have been demanding, and they have promised to fulfil them. Now we say we are giving them an opportunity to make corrections. The election will come in 2027, and citizens will decide for themselves. But from here until then, we don’t want our citizens to continue suffering,” he stated.