As a respected statesman, former Vice President, and current Wiper Democratic Movement leader, you have earned a reputation as a measured, principled, and seasoned politician.

For decades, you have navigated Kenya’s volatile political waters with resilience and strategic tact. But today, I write to you not with praise but with caution—and urgency.

There are strong indications that the Kenya Kwanza government is actively attempting to woo you into its fold. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently hinted at a possible working relationship between you and President William Ruto. The Kenya Kwanza troops have reportedly made overtures aimed at “building consensus” across political divides. And now, quiet conversations among political elites suggest a broader strategy to co-opt opposition figures into government.

Let me be blunt: joining the Kenya Kwanza government at this hour would not only be politically unwise, it would be a betrayal of the very people you claim to represent, especially the youth of this country.

Kenya’s Gen Z has awakened, and they are watching closely. The recent protests shook the political establishment to its core. Young people, mostly leaderless and without partisan banners, mobilised en masse to demand accountability, transparency, and fundamental change. They are not interested in political deals, handshake politics, or power-sharing arrangements that benefit individuals while doing nothing to address public suffering.

The brutal response by the government to police killings, abductions, and internet shutdowns has only hardened Gen Z’s resolve. They are now highly politically aware and deeply suspicious of any manoeuvres that resemble betrayal or elite collusion. If you choose to align with a regime that met their cries for justice with violence and contempt, you will not be forgiven. Your legacy will be redefined overnight from ‘Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka the diplomat’ to ‘Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka the sellout’. And it will not be the usual opposition politicians labelling you, so it will be Kenya’s youth.

Vested interests

You’ve been in opposition long enough to understand the value of consistency. Since the days of CORD and NASA, to your time in Azimio la Umoja, you’ve stood as a symbol of resistance to impunity. That resistance must continue not through violent confrontation but through the democratic duty of opposition: to question, to scrutinise, and to represent the voiceless. Joining the government, particularly under a regime that is facing widespread legitimacy questions, would destroy that moral authority.

Let us not pretend this is about ‘national unity’ or ‘working together for the people’. Kenyans have heard this script before. We saw it in the aftermath of the 2007 crisis. We saw it again in the handshake between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. Each time, the result was the same: the opposition was weakened, corruption deepened, and the Kenyan people were left with fewer choices and louder frustrations.

Kenya does not need another political alignment. It needs bold, principled leadership that is willing to stand alone if necessary. You, Kalonzo Musyoka, still have a chance to be that leader. The 2027 elections may seem far off, but the groundwork is being laid now. And the people are watching. The youth, in particular, are not waiting for direction from above; they are organising, analysing, and calling out betrayal wherever they see it.

So, resist the temptation. Do not be lured by cabinet appointments, special envoys, or shallow gestures of ‘inclusion’. Stand firm with the people. Use your voice and platform to support the movement for accountability and change. Be remembered as the leader who stood on the right side of history, not the one who chose comfort over country.