Kalonzo welcomes Gor Semelang’o to Wiper Party NEC
By Faith Lagat, August 26, 2025Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has welcomed media and youth development expert Gor Semelang’o into the Wiper Patriotic Front’s (WPF) National Executive Council (NEC).
Speaking during a meeting at the party’s Nairobi headquarters on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Musyoka described Semelang’o’s entry as timely in shaping WPF’s national outlook.
“Our Front is getting stronger, and I’m pleased that Gor Semelang’o has officially joined us. We look forward to his contribution, particularly in youth development and media engagement,” Musyoka said in a statement on X.
Semelang’o, a former chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, brings years of experience in youth empowerment and media, areas WPF has identified as critical in reaching Kenya’s youthful demographic.
His appointment comes weeks after Musyoka unveiled a rebrand of the party from the Wiper Democratic Movement to the Wiper Patriotic Front, with the new slogan #KomboaKenya aimed at rallying the public around a message of liberation and inclusivity.
Conditional support
Semelang’o’s inclusion coincides with growing political realignments within the opposition. Parliamentary Service Commissioner Johnson Muthama, a former Machakos Senator and key figure in the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has hinted at supporting Musyoka’s presidential bid in 2027.
Addressing a gathering in Kitui County on Sunday, August 24, 2025, Muthama made it clear his backing would depend on Musyoka securing the opposition coalition’s presidential ticket.
“Even now people are saying Kalonzo is going for the presidential position, and I have no issue with that,” he said. “Let him first get the certificate, and if he comes over with it, then I will tell you which direction to take.”
The remarks build on a truce signalled in June 2024 in Makueni County, where Muthama and Musyoka pledged to unite the Ukambani region.
National push for 2027
WPF’s rebrand, unveiled on July 31, 2025, is designed to appeal particularly to Gen Z, inspired by their role in the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. Musyoka emphasised that the party would not confine itself to Ukambani but would seek national relevance by fielding candidates for all elective seats in 2027.
“The party now has a new face. Wiper is going national so that our Gen Z are fully included,” Musyoka declared during a tour in Emali.
With Semelang’o’s expertise, Muthama’s conditional backing, and Musyoka’s renewed national strategy, WPF is positioning itself as a formidable player in the shifting political landscape.