Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka has issued an impassioned call to his long-time ally, Raila Odinga, to abandon President William Ruto’s embattled government and reclaim his mantle as Kenya’s opposition titan ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking after a high-profile meeting with impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and DAP-Kenya’s Eugene Wamalwa at a Nairobi hotel on February 20, Musyoka painted Odinga a stark choice: join a resurgent opposition coalition or risk squandering his democratic legacy by propping up a “dictatorial” Kenya Kwanza regime.
The meeting, a clear signal of Musyoka’s intent to consolidate opposition forces, comes as Ruto’s administration grapples with mounting public discontent over taxation, corruption scandals, and a faltering economy.
Musyoka, who declared his candidacy for 2027 “or earlier,” accused Ruto of sabotaging Odinga’s recent bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship—a loss he claimed left the ODM leader at a crossroads.
“Ruto cost Raila the AUC seat,” Musyoka charged, alleging the President’s duplicity in supporting a rival candidate. “Now, he wishes to use him as a lifeline to his sinking ship.”
A New Opposition Axis Takes Shape
Musyoka’s rendezvous with Gachagua, a bitter Ruto foe since his October 2024 impeachment, underscored a budding alliance aimed at dethroning the President.
Joined by Wamalwa, the trio discussed everything from Gachagua’s hypothetical reconciliation with Ruto—“imagine him landing a chopper in Wamunyoro,” Musyoka quipped—to their shared disdain for the Kenya Kwanza government. “President Ruto is becoming a common enemy here and beyond,” Musyoka said, hinting at a broad coalition that could include Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
Gachagua, who has spent months rallying the Mt Kenya region against Ruto, doubled down on his endorsement of Musyoka as the opposition’s 2027 flagbearer. On February 9, he boasted of a potential “Mt Kenya South” voting bloc—merging the Akamba and Mt Kenya communities—that could deliver 8 million votes, with Musyoka adding 4 million more. “We intend to beat Ruto with a margin of over six million votes,” Gachagua declared, framing their alliance as a vengeance-driven juggernaut.
Musyoka, twice Odinga’s running mate in losing presidential bids (2013 and 2017), has struggled to step out of the ODM leader’s shadow. His 2022 sidelining for Martha Karua—followed by Karua’s exit from Odinga’s camp—left him tethered to Odinga’s coalition despite their defeat to Ruto. Now, with Gachagua’s backing, Musyoka sees his clearest shot yet at the presidency. But he knows the puzzle’s missing piece is Odinga, whose ODM machinery remains a kingmaker in Kenyan politics.
The Raila Conundrum
Musyoka’s plea was as much a challenge as it was an olive branch. “Raila should reclaim his space in the opposition instead of joining a government hell-bent on making the common man’s life more miserable,” he said, accusing Ruto of “budgeted corruption” and a “payslip raid” that has slashed workers’ earnings by nearly 50% through punitive taxes. He urged Odinga to lead the opposition through 2027, warning that aligning with Ruto would alienate his base and tarnish his decades-long fight for democracy. “How can he lose all that by siding with dictators?” Musyoka asked.
Odinga’s post-AUC options, Musyoka argued, boil down to two: revive a reimagined Azimio la Umoja coalition or accept a rumored Prime Minister post in Ruto’s government. The latter, he cautioned, would be a “personal benefits” trap, sacrificing the aspirations of Kenyans who see Odinga as their champion. “Even if ODM joins Ruto, we shall remain stronger,” Musyoka vowed, pointing to recent opposition victories like derailing the controversial Adani deals as proof of their resilience.
Ruto’s Foes Circle the Wagons
The timing of Musyoka’s overture is no coincidence. Ruto’s coalition is fraying under the weight of internal dissent and public outrage, with Gachagua’s impeachment—backed by Odinga’s allies—only deepening the rift. Political pundits see Odinga as the wildcard: his decision could either bolster Ruto’s flagging legitimacy or turbocharge an opposition juggernaut. “The ODM holds the key,” Musyoka said, namechecking Odinga’s lieutenant Junet Mohammed as a potential proxy if the veteran opts out.
For now, Musyoka is betting on a united front to “rescue Kenya” from Ruto’s grip. His alliance with Gachagua, bolstered by emerging opposition voices, signals a calculated escalation in the 2027 race. But as he courts Odinga, the question looms: will the ODM patriarch heed the call—or take Ruto’s bait and redraw the political map once more?
