Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has a soft spot for Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka with sources confiding he could be popularizing him as the united Opposition flag bearer in the next year’s General Elections.
The retired President had earlier openly thrown weight behind former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’I and went ahead to receive him as his Deputy leader in Jubilee Party. The party went ahead and endorsed him as its presidential candidate in 2027 polls.
Uhuru Kenyatta who was accompanied by Kalonzo in a trip to Lagos Nigeria raised rumours and speculations over the weekend when they quietly held a high-level meeting with former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.
The meeting according to insiders was describe as a calculated move ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
Although Uhuru and Kalonzo were officially in Lagos to attend the prestigious Future Africa Leaders Awards, the trip went beyond ceremonial duties.
Behind the scenes, the two Kenyan leaders stayed back for several closed-door sessions, culminating in a discreet but politically significant meeting with Obasanjo, one of Africa’s most influential elder statesmen.
The high-profile awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at the Loveworld Nation Arena, Aseese Base in Lagos, bringing together African leaders, policymakers, and young changemakers from across the continent.
Uhuru and Kalonzo were among the hihg powered guests, delivering speeches that emphasised purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and faith as key pillars for Africa’s future.
However, sources familiar with the visit hinted that after the main event, the two leaders opted to remain in Nigeria for additional engagements. It was during this extended stay that they held a series of private consultations, including the much-guarded meeting with Obasanjo.
Sources confirmed that Uhuru’s agenda during the Obasanjo meeting was Kenya’s 2027 succession politics, with Kalonzo Musyoka’s presidential ambitions taking centre stage.
The former President is said to have used the opportunity to formally pitch Kalonzo as a unifying national figure capable of rallying broad support across Kenya’s political divide.
Our Sources revealed that Uhuru directly appealed to Obasanjo to back Kalonzo’s 2027 presidential bid.
The appeal was particularly sensitive given Obasanjo’s long-standing friendship with the family of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his open support for Raila’s 2022 presidential bid.
Obasanjo who has been following Kenya’s previous General Elections is not new to Kalonzo Musyoka’s closeness to Raila Odinga having been his running mate in 2013 and 2017 General Elections. In 2022, Kalonzo withdrew his Presidential bid and threw weight behind Raila despite picking Martha Karua as his running mate.
Beyond seeking Obasanjo’s personal endorsement on Kalonzo, Uhuru urged the former Nigerian leader to leverage his close ties with the Odinga family to nudge them toward supporting the Wiper Patriotic Front party leader.
Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalonzo Musyoka also toured the historic Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, in their visit to the West African nation.
The particular library is a world-class complex established by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to preserve Africa’s political, cultural, and historical legacy. The facility, which houses an extensive collection of documents, artefacts, and exhibits chronicling Nigeria’s journey since independence, also serves as a research and leadership development centre aimed at inspiring future generations across the continent.
During his visit, according to the statement shared via X by the Office of the 4th President of Kenya on Saturday, January 3, 2026, Uhuru Kenyatta undertook an extensive tour of the library, where he was shown various exhibitions detailing Nigeria’s democratic evolution, regional peace efforts, and President Obasanjo’s continental contributions to governance and leadership.
The former Kenyan Head of State also viewed collections highlighting Africa’s role in global diplomacy and sustainable development.
By Pius Nyatike
