President William Ruto has urged Kalonzo Musyoka to support his 2027 re-election bid.
President William Ruto asks the Wiper leader to repay his 1992 campaign support, but Kalonzo has maintained his intention to challenge him.
President William Ruto courts Kalonzo Musyoka for support in the 2027 election, citing their shared political history. He urged the Wiper leader to back his re-election bid while speaking in Kitui County.
Ruto made the appeal during the launch of the Kandwia-Kyuso-Tseikuru Road in Kora. He asked residents to pass his message to Kalonzo, who has maintained his intention to challenge him.
Ruto courts Kalonzo through past political ties
The President said he campaigned for Kalonzo under KANU in 1992 and helped him secure victory. He therefore urged the Wiper leader to return that support in the next presidential election.
Ruto also pointed to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s past association with Kalonzo. He said Kindiki had supported the Wiper leader during the 2007 political period.
However, Kalonzo has continued to align himself with the opposition despite Ruto’s repeated approaches. The latest public appeal does not establish any change in the Wiper leader’s position.
President questions opposition selection process
Ruto also criticised the process Kalonzo faced before the 2022 General Election as a potential opposition running mate. He described the questioning as disrespectful to the former vice-president.
The President argued that Kalonzo could face a similar process before the 2027 contest. Opposition leaders are seeking agreement on a candidate to challenge Ruto’s bid for a second term.
Meanwhile, Kalonzo has expressed his own ambition to contest the presidency. Ruto’s appeal therefore seeks support from a leader who intends to become his electoral opponent.
Earlier approaches failed to secure support
Before the 2013 General Election, Ruto and Kalonzo took part in discussions around the proposed G7 Alliance. However, that arrangement collapsed, and Kalonzo joined the CORD coalition led by Raila Odinga.
In the run-up to the 2022 election, Ruto publicly offered Kalonzo a senior role in his prospective government. Kalonzo instead remained in the Azimio coalition.
After winning the presidency, Ruto disclosed that he had met Kalonzo and offered him two possible positions. These were Speaker of the National Assembly or Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
Kalonzo declined those offers, saying he preferred to remain in the opposition. His stated intention remains to challenge Ruto at the ballot box in 2027.
