Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has softened his stance and expressed a willingness to engage with Azimio leader Raila Odinga as part of a broader strategy to form a formidable coalition ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking on Thursday, August 15, Musyoka acknowledged the importance of collaboration, even as he maintained his critical view of the broad-based government in which Odinga is working alongside President William Ruto.
The former Vice President emphasized that a strong coalition would be essential in challenging the incumbent President Ruto in the upcoming election. “We must continue to engage with Raila Odinga. As we speak, he is the leader of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition. There’s no way we will not engage with him going forward until we decide on whether to release him to go completely to the AU,” Musyoka stated.
Kalonzo has been a vocal critic of Odinga, especially after four leaders from Odinga’s ODM party secured cabinet positions in Ruto’s government. The Wiper leader had previously threatened to instruct his party’s MPs to oppose the nominations of Hassan Joho, John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi, and Wycliffe Oparanya during the vetting process.
Despite these tensions, Musyoka has continued to play a leading role within the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition, which has chosen him to guide the political outfit as Raila Odinga campaigns for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position. Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, speaking on behalf of the coalition, affirmed Kalonzo’s leadership role, stating, “Kalonzo Musyoka has continued to lead us while Raila has been out seeking the leadership of the African Union, and we continue to ask him to guide us as a coalition. We have resolved that he continues leading us even as we allow Raila to continue with AUC campaigns.”
Mr. Musyoka, who recently spoke at a conference hosted by the Oslo Center and the Muslim World League (MWL) at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), expressed deep appreciation to the MWL, The Oslo Center, and all dignitaries present. He emphasized the significance of the conference’s theme, “Breaking Barriers Through Intergenerational Dialogue,” within Africa’s current socio-economic and political landscape.
In his remarks, the Wiper leader underscored the importance of Africa’s youthful population, describing them as “more than simply tomorrow’s leaders; they are change-makers in the present.” He stressed that the continent’s future success depends on actively engaging youth in meaningful intergenerational dialogue, which facilitates the exchange of ideas, wisdom, and experiences between generations. This process, he emphasized, has the potential to increase understanding, reduce generational conflicts, and create a unified front to address the continent’s challenges.
Reflecting on recent socio-political events in Kenya, Mr. Musyoka acknowledged the significant role that Generation Z and Millennials have played in reshaping the country’s political discourse. He praised their courage in organizing peaceful protests against the Finance Bill 2024 and other governance issues, despite facing state-sanctioned violence.
Musyoka condemned the brutality that led to the loss of over 300 young Kenyan lives, calling it a tragic outcome of their pursuit of constitutional dialogue.
He highlighted the impact of these youth-led movements, noting that they led to substantial changes in the Kenyan government, including the disbanding of the entire cabinet, the resignation of the Inspector General of Kenya Police Services, and a public apology from the Government Spokesperson.
He emphasized that these actions demonstrate the power of youth-driven constitutional dialogue in effecting real and lasting change.
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