Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen/X
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka to reconsider his political stance, arguing that he would be safer and more influential inside President William Ruto’s broad-based government than in former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s camp.
Speaking on Friday in Makueni County, Murkomen told residents that while he respects Kalonzo as a longtime political friend, his current alliances may not serve his best interests.
He further told Ukambani residents that Gachagua’s reference to Kalonzo as a cousin was, in his view, politically insincere.
“Explain to him gently… this person of cousins (Gachagua), do you really think he will support Kalonzo? The safest place to make a difference at the moment is in the broad-based government,” Murkomen said.
The CS also claimed that during the 2022 General Election period, President Ruto had reached out to Kalonzo and invited him to help form the government.
According to Murkomen, he was present during the discussion, but the Wiper leader declined the offer, opting instead to remain in the opposition.
“I’m not lying; you can even ask him. When we formed the government, President Ruto called him and asked him to join. But he said he would not enter government and decided to remain in opposition,” he stated.
Murkomen also criticised what he described as a shift in Gachagua’s tone toward Kalonzo, alleging that the same person who had opposed his entry into government now refers to him as “a cousin.”
“The other day, I saw that the same person who was disputing Kalonzo is now calling him a cousin,” Murkomen remarked.
“If he knew Kalonzo was his cousin, why didn’t he compel him earlier to join the government so that they could become cousins inside the government?” he posed.
Kalonzo has previously ruled out working with the broad-based government, insisting that he cannot align himself with Kenya Kwanza or politically rejoin ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a media interview on June 30, 2025, Kalonzo criticised Raila for what he termed as betrayal, saying he had supported him in three successive general elections only to be sidelined when the ODM leader chose to cooperate with the Ruto administration.
“Raila should ask himself if he betrayed the Azimio coalition or not,” Kalonzo said, adding that Raila’s move fractured the opposition and left many of its leaders politically exposed.
Despite his firm stand, speculation over Kalonzo’s political future has continued to grow.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi sparked debate after suggesting the Wiper leader could be on his way to joining the broad-based government ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“I am confident that going forward, Dr Kalonzo Musyoka will soon join the Rt Hon Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga and President William Ruto in steering the country forward,” Wandayi said.
“Having worked with Dr Musyoka in NADCO, I’m more than persuaded that his contribution to the government would be crucial.”
