Contrary to claims made by some people that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is walking a political tightrope, nothing could be further from the truth.
Kalonzo has a bright future and my assessment is if he sustains the momentum he has built in the Wiper party and works within the One Kenya Alliance, he is a force to reckon with.
The former vice president is no pushover and it is important that his competitors appreciate his credentials and support across Ukambani and beyond.
Nobody should try to underestimate the Wiper boss' influence in national politics. For instance, the Ukambani region is solidly behind Kalonzo, despite efforts by his opponents to paint a picture of a subdued man.
There is no way someone can lie that Kalonzo has lost his grip on his Ukambani backyard. The Wiper leader enjoys massive support across all three Ukambani counties.
The efforts being made to portray Ukambani as split are neither here nor there. Obviously, Kalonzo does not play in the league of the region's governors.
Kalonzo has built his political profile for decades. He has demonstrated consistency in the fight against corruption and championed clean politics.
He enjoys support beyond the region and remains one of the politicians with the most impressive political and integrity credentials.
Concerning the 2022 general election, Wiper has a big opportunity to form the next government if it continues to work within the Oka framework.
Even if Kalonzo wants to expand negotiations with other political players, he can decide to form a pre-election coalition or a post-election coalition. Either would suffice.
I would advise him to stick to where President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM boss Raila Odinga are.
The next few months will be decisive for Wiper as the country enters the phase of coalition-building.
Regarding Deputy President William Ruto, I would not advise Kalonzo to team up with him because that would ruin his chances of ever becoming Kenya's president.
The DP's brand of politics and political philosophy are not in sync with what Kalonzo believes in. If he were to take that direction, he would surely lose his massive Ukambani support.
Former Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi spoke to the Star
(Edited by V. Graham)
