Herman Manyora predicts Kalonzo will join Ruto if Gachagua insists on vying for presidency
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 23, 2025Seasoned political analyst Herman Manyora has come out to state that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is likely to join the government if former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua insists on being the united opposition’s flag bearer in 2027.
While speaking during an interview on his channel on Monday, September 22, 2025, Manyora states that it will be difficult for Kalonzo, who has in the past supported ODM leader Raila Odinga 3 times, to cede ground to one of his principals in the united opposition who are his juniors in politics.
According to Manyora, nothing will stop the wiper leader from going for the top seat, and should the former deputy president insist on running as he currently desires, Kalonzo would rather join the government and support Ruto for his reelection than hold a junior position.
“The first thing that will make Kalonzo perhaps join the government is perhaps if Gachagua decides to vie or if Matiang’i does the same, for Kalonzo can’t support anybody else; rightfully so, he would cede ground to Raila, and it would be understandable. Who will he cede ground for? All these are junior to him,” Manyora stated.
He further poked holes in the tribulations that Kalonzo went through in 2022, saying that despite deputising Raila two times, he was denied the chance and subjected to an interview aimed at picking the right candidate to deputise Raila.
According to Manyora, it was painful for the former vice president to cede ground for Raila, who had promised him in 2017 that he would support him in the coming election, only for him to further drop him and pick PLP leader Martha Karua as his preferred running mate, leaving Kalonzo in the cold.
Manyora has emphasised that Kalonzo would not allow the same to happen to him again in 2027.
“It was painful for Kalonzo not only to cede ground to Raila but also to cede ground to Martha Karua and be subjected to an interview. It was so demeaning for Kalonzo; you can’t take Kalonzo through the same now, so I can see if Gachagua runs, Kalonzo will just join Ruto because he knows. Gachagua would want Kalonzo to run so that those votes are lost, so Kalonzo, realising these votes could be lost,” Manyora stated.
Kamba region reaction
He further contended that if Kalonzo is not on the ballot, the Akamba region would rather vote for Ruto than any person in opposition, since that would have amounted to betrayal.
He further noted that even the ‘cousin’ narrative that has endeared Gachagua to the Akamba region won’t work in these instances, and they would rather support the government than the opposition.
“Even if Kalonzo does not vie in 2027, the Akamba will just vote for Ruto; the cousin narrative won’t work. These are human beings.”
2022 running mate picking saga
This comes days after Kalonzo opened up on the events that preceded him being dropped for Martha.
He recalled how Raila Odinga was accompanied by National Assembly minority leader Junet Mohamed to break the news.
Raila then told him that the opinion polls had shown that the Mt Kenya region, which they were eyeing, could be excited if Martha Karua is picked as Raila’s running mate.