‘Join Ruto’: Murkomen, Kenya Kwanza Leaders Court Kalonzo After Sifuna Snub

Kenya Kwanza leaders have implored Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka to join the government, saying he could find greater respect on their side after what they described as a hostile reception at Friday’s launch of the Linda Mwananchi Movement.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen led the call during a tour of Narok County, where Kenya Kwanza leaders attended a women’s empowerment event. The 2027 succession debate featured prominently, with several leaders expressing support for Kalonzo.

“Nataka kuambia Kalonzo leo kama anafikiria kile aliona jana ilikuwa kitu hiyo ni kionjo (I want to tell Kalonzo today that if he thinks what he saw yesterday was something serious, it was only a foretaste). If you think Sifuna will support you, ni uwongo(it is a lie) ,” Murkomen said.

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse said the reception showed that younger opposition figures did not respect Kalonzo and urged him to work with President William Ruto.

“Jana tumeona maneno ya aibu sana. Kalonzo ni mzee anafaa kuheshimika. Hawa vijana wako na madharau, wanakuonyesha hawakutaki. Tafutana na sisi tufanye kazi pamoja na Rais William Ruto (Yesterday we saw very shameful things. Kalonzo is an elder and deserves respect. These young people are disrespectful and are showing you they do not want you. Find us so we can work together with President William Ruto),” Mutuse said.

UDA Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi also urged Kalonzo to reconsider his political alliances, pointing to his decades in politics.

“Kalonzo amekaa kwa siasa zaidi ya miaka arubaini, anakuambia uje chini kwa kijana mdogo ambaye ameingia juzi (Kalonzo has been in politics for more than forty years, and they are telling him to serve under a young man who only just arrived),” Nyakundi said.

The leaders also criticized opposition figures for failing to agree on a single presidential candidate as the 2027 General Election approaches. They maintained that Ruto remained on course to win a second term.

“Hiyo tabia tuliona jana… tunawaambia mmeshindwa asubuhi na mapema… sisi tunajua Rais Ruto atashinda (The behavior we saw yesterday… we are telling you that you have already lost, early in the morning… we know President Ruto will win),” said Farouk Kibet, an aide to President Ruto.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot challenged the opposition to name its candidate.

“Wacheni kutupotezea wakati, mtangaze mtu tupatane kwa uwanja, unless kwa hii opposition kuna Malaika,” he said.

(Stop wasting our time, name someone so we can meet on the field, unless this opposition has angels.)