Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has confirmed that his party, the Wiper Democratic Movement, has been rebranded, and now it will be known as the Wiper Patriotic Front.

Kalonzo made the confirmation through a statement on his X account on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

“Earlier today, I met with members of the National Executive Council (NEC) at our party headquarters in Nairobi.

“We discussed a number of issues, including the current state of the nation, the United Opposition, the June 25 public holiday, and the rebranding of the @TheWiperParty as the Wiper Patriotic Front,” Klaonzo said.

History of WDM

This is yet another evolution that the movement has undergone since it began as Orange Democratic Movement–Kenya (ODM–Kenya).

Specifically, it is one of the parties born out of the result of the 2005 general referendum when the opposition figures, led by Raila Odinga, Uhuru Kenyatta, and William Ruto, successfully spearheaded the No campaign against the proposed referendum. Their symbol was an orange.

To differentiate itself from Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), another party that traces itself to the 2005 plebiscite, Wiper changed its colours in 2011.

WDM-ODM alliances

The two parties were among the outfits that came together to form the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) for the 2013 elections, which they lost to the Jubilee Alliance.

Again, in the 2017 elections, the opposition parties formed the National Super Alliance, with Wiper given the running mate position and Raila the flagbearer. They lost to the Jubilee Party, although they successfully challenged the election outcome in the Supreme Court.

However, the opposition did not take part in the repeat elections ordered by the David-Maraga-led court.

Unlike in the 2013 and 2017 elections, Wiper was not given the running mate position during the 2022 elections when the party joined hands with others to form the Azimio la Umoja–Kenya Kwanza coalition.