Wiper Party leaders from the Coast region have warned that the party could abandon opposition unity talks and field its leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, independently in the 2027 presidential election if he is denied the coalition’s presidential ticket.
The leaders, led by Wiper Coast chair Dr John Chamia, maintained that the party would not support another candidate at Kalonzo’s expense, arguing that his contribution to opposition politics should be recognised during ongoing negotiations.
Their remarks signal disagreements within the opposition as political parties seek to agree on a common candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Kalonzo Heckling at Linda Mwananchi Headquarters Launch Raises Tensions
The warning follows an incident in which Kalonzo was heckled during the launch of the Linda Mwananchi Party headquarters and secretariat in Nairobi.
Dr Chamia defended Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna against direct blame for the incident, alleging that some individuals at the gathering had deliberately provoked hostility between supporters of the two political camps.
He claimed the incident was intended to create divisions between Wiper and Linda Mwananchi at a time when opposition parties were pursuing a common presidential candidate.
Chamia urged opposition leaders to protect their working relationships and ensure supporters of allied parties did not intimidate or humiliate one another’s leaders.
He added that discussions on selecting a joint presidential candidate were expected to take place within the next month.
Wiper Rules Out Kalonzo Becoming Ruto’s Running Mate
Chamia also dismissed suggestions that Kalonzo could abandon the opposition and join President William Ruto’s camp as his running mate.
He insisted that such an arrangement was not under consideration, maintaining that Wiper remained committed to its leader’s presidential ambitions.
Sheikh Omar Twaha Warns Opposition Against Overlooking Kalonzo
Sheikh Omar Twaha echoed the concerns, warning that the treatment of Kalonzo could alienate Wiper supporters and undermine efforts to unite opposition parties.
He argued that Kalonzo had remained in the opposition despite previous attempts, including those attributed to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, to persuade him to work with the government.
Twaha said Wiper could not reasonably be expected to remain in a coalition if its leader continued to be overlooked or treated as an insignificant partner.
He also challenged Sifuna to address the conduct of his supporters, arguing that mutual respect among opposition leaders was necessary to maintain their political alliance.
Twaha maintained that Kalonzo was prepared to contest the presidency independently rather than withdraw from the race if another candidate secured the coalition’s nomination.
Patricia Nzioka Backs Kalonzo’s 2027 Presidential Bid
Patricia Nzioka, a woman representative aspirant, also expressed support for Kalonzo’s presidential ambitions, citing his political beliefs and leadership approach.
She called on Sifuna to discourage hostility towards other opposition figures, arguing that disagreements among supporters should not undermine relationships between political leaders.
Wiper’s Position Puts Opposition Coalition Talks Under Pressure
Wiper’s warning introduces another challenge to opposition efforts to settle on a joint presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The party’s Coast leaders have made their position clear: Kalonzo’s presidential ambitions must receive serious consideration in the coalition negotiations.
Whether opposition parties can reach an agreement acceptable to Wiper remains an issue as discussions over the coalition’s presidential candidate approach.
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