Kalonzo’s Catch-22 as Azimio dithers

Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is a man at a crossroads even as his allies pile pressure on him to vie for the presidency in 2027.

The Wiper Democratic Movement leader finds himself in a dilemma over whether to remain in the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance or bolt out of the coalition to chart his path ahead of the 2027 General Election.

With former Prime Minister Raila Odinga working with President William Ruto as he heightens his campaigns for the African Union (AU) Commission chairmanship, Kalonzo is in a delicate balancing act as he positions himself to lead the opposition and keep the Kenya Kwanza administration in check, ahead of 2027 elections.

Kalonzo will today preside over an Azimio meeting expected to discuss its leadership in Parliament after senior officials in Raila’s ODM joined President Ruto’s Cabinet.

Addressing journalists in Embu yesterday, Kalonzo, who was flanked by Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and Democratic Action Party’s (DAP)  Eugene Wamalwa, said it was untenable for Raila to remain leader of the Opposition after some ODM members joined the government.

Official opposition

Kalonzo said the Azimio governing council will determine who will be the official Opposition leader in Parliament as members of the ODM party cannot be in Government and hold the position at the same time.

“We shall engage each other in an honest and frank manner to agree on the position of the Leader of Opposition in Parliament. Our friends in ODM have decided to work with the government and cannot be expected to effectively serve as the Leader of the Opposition,” Kalonzo said yesterday.

The former Vice-President is unhappy with the manner in which the Kenya Kwanza coalition was running the country and has decided to team up with other Opposition leaders to press for better governance.

“We shall not follow our brother Raila into government. We want a formidable and vibrant Opposition to put the government to task,” h said.

As a man who had previously banged hopes on receiving endorsement from Raila for the top seat in reciprocation for the past support he has accorded the veteran opposition chief, Kalonzo now finds himself grappling with the question of how to chart his own path.

Kalonzo, who has insisted that he would go for the top seat with or without the support of Raila, has also been rumoured to be reaching out to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for a possible alliance in 2027.

Talks of a possible alliance between the two were fuelled sometime in June by Kalonzo himself when he threw his weight behind Gachagua amid speculations that some Kenya Kwanza MPs were hatching plans to impeach the latter.

Kalonzo assured Gachagua that should his party decide to table an impeachment motion against him, as has been reported, the Opposition MPs would stand with him.

Impeachment motion

“To those dishonourable MPs, I say this: if you try to bring an Impeachment Motion against Rigathi Gachagua, Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leadership and Honourable Members will Vote No!” Kalonzo said then. Kalonzo’s stance set political tongues wagging as even former President Uhuru Kenyatta is technically a member of the Azimio brigade, which he backed in the August 9, 2022 General Election but narrowly lost to Ruto.

 Gachagua has been manoeuvring to reconcile with Uhuru to the point of publicly apologising to the former President for demeaning remarks against him, his family and business interests during the campaign period.

 It was not lost on political pundits that Kalonzo’s resolve to stand behind the embattled DP came after he was recently hosted by a cross-section of the Kikuyu Council of Elders led by its chairman, Wachira Kiago, where they jointly issued a statement saying they were forging mutually beneficial cooperation.

After the meeting in Kiambu County on April 4,  Kalonzo said he wanted to “bridge the historical gap between the Agikuyu and Akamba who treat each other as at home (in-laws)”, while Kiago declared that “the cooperation between us will grow from strength to strength and bring in new horizons that will consolidate meaningful gains for now and the future”.

As if still holding onto hopes of receiving support from Raila and his allies in the coalition, Kalonzo last week announced that Uhuru would soon convene an Azimio affiliate parties’ meeting to address the crisis that has hit the outfit following the appointment of ODM’s politicians to the Cabinet.

Kalonzo, while yesterday admitting there were challenges in the opposition coalition, said affiliate parties will soon hold talks to iron out their differences.

Kalonzo added that they will continue engaging with ODM leaders even as he campaigns for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.

“Uhuru Kenyatta will soon convene a meeting to deliberate on issues openly and comprehensively,” Kalonzo told journalists last week.

Already, Kalonzo has received support from Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu among others from Mt Kenya region.

Pole position

According to Kalonzo’s allies, the former vice president is in a pole position to take over the leadership of the country in 2027.

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi says apparently, Kalonzo is the only leader with a national outlook that is standing with Kenyans as other opposition colleagues rush to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“Because of standing with Kenyans in the wake of numerous challenges, we expect reciprocation in 2027. At the moment Kalonzo should heighten his public engagement with Kenyans across the country, listening to them,” says Mwangangi.

The Deputy county boss says that while the former VP should remain in Azimio at the moment, he must be able to chart his own path and seek alliances with like-minded people.

He also says Kalonzo should speak boldly against ills being perpetuated by the Kenya Kwanza government, particularly on the cost of living, chaos in the education sector, struggling economy, challenges facing devolution and lack of accountability.

“Though Raila has not said he has left Azimio, Kalonzo should reactivate his old political networks, build new alliances and unite his backyard ahead of 2027. He must also push for social,