Kariobangi North Member of County Assembly (MCA) Joel Munuve has hinted at a possibility of ODM Party leader Raila Odinga ditching the broad-based government to form a coalition with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking during a vernacular TV show on Monday, March 31, 2025, Munuve, who clinched the Kariobangi ward seat as an independent candidate, observed that Raila had long benefitted from the generosity of the Ukambani electorate, and the 2027 polls would be the best time to reciprocate the years of standing together with him.

“We as a community will look for Raila, sit down and let him know that our people are suffering under the broad-based arrangement. As a defender of the people, there is a huge possibility that Raila becomes a prime minister in Kalonzo’s government,” Munuve said.

Strong coalitions

The vocal Kariobangi MCA equally noted that Wiper Party was actively engaged in forming as many coalitions as possible to fortify their support base ahead of the 2027 polls, when they will then engage with other politicians with the hope of ousting President William Ruto.

“We have believed in Raila for years, and this time, we hope that he will support our candidate, Kalonzo Musyoka. You cannot form a government without strong coalitions,” Munuve stated.

“For that matter, we are going to ensure that we garner as many votes in Western Kenya from the leaders in the region, including DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and even Mumias East MP Peter Salasya.”

Kalonzo and People Liberation Party leader Martha Karua abandoned Raila when he entered into a working MoU with the Kenya-Kwanza administration following their loss to Ruto in the 2022 polls.

Substantive opposition

The leaders have since joined hands in forming what appears to be the substantive opposition in the country after ODM was co-opted into Ruto’s government, where a number of legislators have been elected as parliamentary committee chairpersons.

While Kalonzo is yet to declare whether he will be running in the 2027 general elections, some of his allies, including the former Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, have declared support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to be the presidential candidate.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Karua have also yet to settle on a candidate to fly the coalition’s flag in the 2027 elections.

Ruto is set to embark on a tour of the Mt Kenya region, in what appears to be a move to mend fences with the region following the acrimonious fallout with Gachagua in October 2024.