Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has urged party members to unite behind his presidential bid.
Kalonzo Musyoka urges stronger party mobilisation as opposition leaders negotiate a single presidential candidate for 2027.
Kalonzo warns Wiper members against poor mobilisation after supporters of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna heckled him at the Linda Mwananchi headquarters launch. The Wiper Patriotic Front leader urged members to unite behind his presidential bid.
Speaking at Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu’s house-warming ceremony on Saturday, October 31, Kalonzo criticised the party’s turnout. He attributed the previous day’s heckling to the lack of a strong team accompanying him.
Kalonzo warns Wiper over turnout
Kalonzo said party members needed to attend events together and demonstrate support for his national ambitions. He linked that effort to his pursuit of the united opposition’s presidential ticket for 2027.
He also contrasted Wiper’s attendance with the team accompanying Rigathi Gachagua at the launch. Kalonzo praised that group’s coordinated branding and urged his own members to emulate its organisation.
Meanwhile, he asked members to strengthen their teamwork as he continued reaching out across the country. His message stressed that winning the opposition nomination would require effort rather than an expectation of automatic support.
The Wiper leader maintained his commitment to the presidential race while also pledging to help unite the opposition.
Dispute over opposition presidential candidate
The heckling followed Kalonzo’s objection to remarks by DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa at Friday’s event. Wamalwa had announced Sifuna as the opposition’s presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
However, Kalonzo argued that opposition leaders needed to follow established procedures before settling on one candidate. He said negotiations remained underway and identified November 13 as the date for internal meetings with other presidential contenders.
His response angered members of the crowd, who chanted Sifuna’s name and temporarily interrupted his speech. Kalonzo had argued that Sifuna remained a party leader rather than the agreed presidential flagbearer.
Despite the confrontation, Kalonzo reiterated his support for a joint opposition challenge against President William Ruto. He pledged to rally behind a single candidate while continuing to pursue his own bid.
