How Raila dumped me for Martha Karua as running mate – Kalonzo
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 10, 2025Wiper and Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has come out to explain how former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, accompanied by National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, visited his Karen home to break the news that he was being dropped as Raila’s 2022 running mate in favour of PLP leader Martha Karua.
Speaking on the Iko Nini podcast on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Kalonzo revealed that Raila, in the company of Junet, came to his house and gave him reasons for dropping him, despite Kalonzo having deputised Raila twice before.
He further explained that this meeting happened prior to the interviews conducted by a panel led by former politician and DAPK chairman Noah Wekesa, which were aimed at selecting Raila’s running mate, an exercise that, according to Kalonzo, his supporters strongly opposed.
Kalonzo narrated that they sat by the fireplace, where Raila explained to him that professionals had advised that the country, and particularly the Mount Kenya region, would be very excited if Martha Karua was chosen as the running mate. Raila added that women across the country, NGOs, and civil society would also welcome the decision.
“So Raila came, sat at the fireplace, and told me, ‘My brother Steve, nimeangalia hii maneno. I have just come from a place where professionals have said that the mountain will be very excited with Martha’s candidature and the NGOs and civil groups will be excited,’” Kalonzo stated.
His response
After listening to Raila’s explanation, Kalonzo said he turned to him and remarked that he now understood why Kenyans often say Raila would never become president.
“I look at Raila, and my witness is Junet. He told raila I have now came to believe why Kenyans believe you will never be the president.”
He further reminded Raila that if in 2013, when they first vied, and again in 2017, they had managed to challenge Uhuru Kenyatta successfully and with Uhuru later backing Raila, then it was a grave mistake for Raila to drop him. Kalonzo added that he initially declined and opted to go for the presidency himself but later accepted the decision.