Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining respect for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, despite Odinga’s recent decision to align with President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking at the Umoja Summit Party’s Annual Delegates Convention in Nairobi on Thursday, Kalonzo stated that attacking political allies, particularly those he has worked with in the past, is not part of his character.
He emphasized his respect for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader’s choice to work with the government but expressed disappointment in the manner in which the ODM party distanced itself from other Azimio coalition partners after joining Kenya Kwanza.
Kalonzo and Raila have shared a long political history, having worked together in multiple election cycles under various coalitions.
In the 2013 and 2017 general elections, Kalonzo was Raila’s running mate under the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and later the National Super Alliance (NASA).
The two political figures were key allies in the opposition’s efforts to challenge the ruling government.
However, cracks began to emerge following the controversial 2018 Handshake between Raila and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, which left Kalonzo and other NASA leaders sidelined.
The situation further deteriorated after the 2022 elections, where Kalonzo once again backed Raila under the Azimio la Umoja coalition, only for ODM to later shift allegiance to President Ruto.
Kalonzo has since viewed this move as a betrayal, particularly given his long-standing loyalty to Raila’s political ambitions.
According to Kalonzo, the Azimio coalition effectively came to an end when Odinga signed a Memorandum of Understanding with President Ruto.
“When our friends in the ODM party openly signed the agreement with Kenya Kwanza outside KICC, in my view, that marked the end of the Azimio coalition.
We must be realistic because the Wiper Party cannot remain alone in Azimio, so this is a statement of fact,” he asserted.
Despite his reservations about ODM’s decision, Kalonzo stressed the importance of mutual respect in politics.
“We live in this country, we have developed personal relationships, and we must respect each other. Nobody will ever hear me attack Raila Odinga because that is not in my DNA.We must respect each other’s choices,” he said.
Kalonzo, who backed Odinga’s candidature alongside Martha Karua who was the latter’s running mate in the 2022 elections, has recently been critical of the former Prime Minister, accusing him of betraying Kenyans by aligning with the government.
He also voiced concerns that the new partnership between Raila and Ruto could undermine the ongoing process of reconstituting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a letter dated March 28, Kalonzo formally wrote to Raila, demanding the inclusion of opposition voices in the IEBC reconstitution process.
“I firmly believe that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM, now aligned on one side, should engage in discussions with those of us in the opposition to ensure a balanced and inclusive process,” the letter read.
He further emphasized that this position is rooted in principles of checks and balances, good governance, and sound public policy.
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