Kalonzo: Opposition will stand united until 2027

Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i in Machakos/HANDOUT

Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka has reiterated that opposition leaders will not disintegrate but stick together until the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at his Yatta farm in Machakos County on Friday, Kalonzo said they had agreed to work as a team.

He noted that the team was building up strongly and would not be distracted by political opponents.

“As political leaders, we agreed that first of all, we must have a team. The team is building up strongly,” Kalonzo said.

The WPF leader hosted a section of opposition leaders alongside dons from 23 public universities and 30 university student leaders at his home.

The leaders included former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, former Attorney General Justin Muturi, and Mukhisa Kituyi.

A host of sitting MPs, as well as Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti, also attended the event.

Kalonzo conveyed greetings from NARC leader Martha Karua, DAP-K counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

He said the country was in a difficult situation. “If you see us eating together, we are building up a team. This team is strong,” he said.

Kalonzo added that many Kenyans were living below a dollar due to economic challenges linked to poor leadership.

He challenged President William Ruto’s economic model, arguing that it was not working.

“How can it work when Kenyans who now live below the poverty line, who can’t afford a dollar a day, are increasingly many? A dollar today is Sh128–Sh130,” Kalonzo posed.

He also highlighted challenges in key sectors such as education, noting that there was little honour left in being a university student.

“I had the privilege to outlaw corporal punishment in all our schools while serving as Minister of Education. We have to strike a balance. You shouldn’t dismember a child,” Kalonzo said.

He added that the Higher Education Loans Board had previously been more helpful to university students than it is today.

“The Sh6,000 boom was useful in addition to the then decent central catering. Today, living standards in our public universities are in a pathetic situation. There is not much honour in being a university student,” Kalonzo said.

Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i echoed Kalonzo’s remarks on unity in the opposition, maintaining that no amount of propaganda would divide them.

“Kalonzo and I have been the targets of choice for this administration through propaganda, malice, and cyberspace nonsense. I wish they spent as much time and energy on the right things,” Matiang’i said.

He thanked Kalonzo for what he termed as leading the way towards the right path in strategising for 2027.

“Your Excellency, thank you. You have led the way. This is what we are going to do in several days; consensus building, having small group meetings like this one. We will do this until that time we will agree on who will be the flag bearer to lead the team in 2027,” Matiang’i said.