Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed suggestions that Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka could abandon the opposition, insisting the former vice president remains firmly committed to the coalition despite President William Ruto’s latest political overtures in Ukambani.
Gachagua’s remarks come after Ruto used his October 24–26 tour of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties to court Kalonzo, question his place in the opposition’s presidential succession plans and urge him to reconsider his political alignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a local television interview on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Gachagua said he remained in regular contact with Kalonzo and was confident of his commitment to the opposition.
“My cousin Kalonzo. He is steadfast. I talk to him every day. I was with him in Wamunyoro. He is a very committed member of our team,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president’s remarks offered a direct counter to Ruto’s appeal to the Wiper leader, placing the spotlight on efforts to secure Kalonzo’s support as political alliances begin to take shape ahead of the next election.
Ruto targets Kalonzo’s allegiance
During his Ukambani tour, Ruto presented his administration’s development agenda as an alternative to the opposition’s political mobilisation, urging residents to support his re-election bid and arguing that the region should prioritise development projects over regional political loyalties.
At Mwala in Machakos County on October 24, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader praised Kalonzo for acknowledging development projects undertaken by the government, portraying the two leaders as having different but complementary roles.
“God uses me to build roads, to bring water, and to organise medical services; meanwhile, God uses Kalonzo to help me spread the word,” Ruto said.
The remarks were part of the President’s broader appeal to the Wiper leader, whose political influence remains significant in the Ukambani region.
Ruto subsequently challenged Kalonzo to reconsider his association with the opposition, warning in Tseikuru, Kitui County, that the coalition could subject him to another round of political vetting before settling on its presidential candidate.
The President’s comments appeared aimed at highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Kalonzo’s prospects within the opposition, where several leaders are expected to negotiate positions and influence the choice of a flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election.
Ruto also invoked his political history with Kalonzo, recalling that he had campaigned for the Wiper leader in 1992 and suggesting that Kalonzo should reciprocate by supporting his re-election bid.
He further cited the opposition’s handling of Kalonzo during the selection process ahead of the 2022 General Election, arguing that the Wiper leader risked facing another political disappointment if he remained in the coalition.
The President’s appeal put Kalonzo at the centre of renewed political manoeuvring between the government and opposition leaders, with his next move likely to attract considerable attention as the election approaches.
Gachagua accuses Ruto of inconsistency
In response to the President’s remarks, Gachagua accused Ruto of changing his political messaging depending on the region he visits and the leaders he seeks to influence.
“William Ruto has a different message for different leaders, depending on where he is,” Gachagua said.
He claimed the President had previously criticised Kalonzo during political engagements in Nyanza but adopted a more accommodating tone while campaigning in Ukambani, where the Wiper leader commands considerable regional support.
“When did Mr Kalonzo Musyoka stop being Mr Forty?” Gachagua asked, referring to the nickname he said Ruto had used against the opposition leader.
Gachagua argued that the President’s latest remarks about Kalonzo contrasted with his earlier political attacks, suggesting that Ruto was adjusting his language to appeal to voters in different parts of the country.
He also accused the President of adopting different positions when addressing communities in Western Kenya, Nyanza and the Mount Kenya region.
According to Gachagua, the approach was intended to appeal to different political constituencies rather than demonstrate a consistent position on national leadership and political partnerships.
The allegations reflected Gachagua’s interpretation of Ruto’s political strategy and were not independently established by the interview.
Nevertheless, the exchange underscored the growing contest over regional support and the efforts by both government and opposition leaders to consolidate political bases ahead of the 2027 polls.
Gachagua revisits Kalonzo’s alliances
Gachagua also explained that his assessment of Kalonzo had evolved after examining the Wiper leader’s political history, particularly his repeated cooperation with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The former deputy president said he had previously been persuaded to believe that Kalonzo lacked a firm political position but had changed his view after reviewing the former vice president’s record of maintaining alliances despite disagreements.
“For many years, I had wrongly been persuaded that Kalonzo has no stand. But what I’ve taken time to study is history,” Gachagua said.
“I think he is one of the most pressed leaders in this country. He has been betrayed three times by Raila Odinga, but he still stood with him.”
Gachagua’s comments presented Kalonzo as a leader who had remained committed to political partnerships even when his own presidential ambitions were not realised.
His reference to Raila also sought to challenge perceptions that Kalonzo was politically unreliable, instead portraying him as a leader who had repeatedly sacrificed personal ambitions to sustain opposition unity.
Kalonzo has been a key figure in successive opposition arrangements, including his cooperation with Raila in previous election cycles. His role in the opposition’s next presidential contest is therefore expected to be a major issue as leaders negotiate coalition structures and succession plans.
Gachagua’s defence suggests that he views Kalonzo’s continued participation in the opposition as important to the coalition’s ability to mount a credible challenge against Ruto in 2027.
Opposition unity faces test
The exchange comes at a time when opposition leaders face the difficult task of agreeing on a presidential candidate while maintaining unity among political figures with competing ambitions.
Kalonzo’s position is particularly important because of his regional influence and experience in national politics. His decision to remain in the opposition, support another candidate or pursue a different political arrangement could affect the coalition’s calculations ahead of the election.
Ruto’s overtures in Ukambani combined promises of development with direct appeals for Kalonzo to reconsider his political partnership, presenting the President’s re-election campaign as an alternative to the opposition’s approach.
Gachagua, however, has sought to reinforce confidence in Kalonzo’s loyalty, dismissing the possibility that the Wiper leader could easily abandon the coalition.
The competing messages highlight the political pressure surrounding Kalonzo as both sides seek to establish alliances capable of influencing the 2027 presidential contest.
While Gachagua maintains that Kalonzo remains firmly in the opposition camp, Ruto’s public appeals indicate that the President is keen to expand his political reach in Ukambani and potentially weaken the opposition’s regional support.
Whether Kalonzo maintains his current alignment or pursues a different arrangement will remain a key question in the unfolding contest over coalition-building, regional influence and presidential succession in Kenya.
