TENSIONS simmered on the political stage on Friday as DCP boss Rigathi
Gachagua and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i took thinly veiled jabs at each
other.
The duo has been engaged in an open tussle within the united
opposition, with the former CS being marginalised from some activities.
On Friday, the two shared a podium - the first since Matiang'i publicly joined Jubilee - during Wiper Patriotic Front’s
National Delegates Congress in Nairobi.
Tension between the two was visible despite assurances
that the team is intact.
Matiang’i left the venue shortly after addressing and before Gachagua took
the podium, avoiding a direct confrontation but leaving a trail of political
undertones.
In his speech, Matiang’ publicly admitted to the internal wars but
assured supporters that they will try everything possible to ensure they remain intact.
“I would like to urge us, because this issue is normally
spoken about, I want to speak about it more bluntly and more frankly,” Matiang’i
said.
“My brothers and sisters and countrymen, building an
opposition or a coalition is a journey of alignments and coming together we
will be together in spite of our differences, not that we don’t have
differences.
“We will work on this together; it is a long journey that we
are determined to walk together. The goal we have is greater than the sum total
of each one of us here. Occasionally, if we argue sometimes or we have
difference of opinion that is precisely because we are a group of people who
are passionate and love their country.”
Gachagua, in apparent reference to Matiang’i, said
nobody will become President by staying at home.
He maintained that all aspirants must leave their comfort
zone and go out to woo voters.
“The presidency cannot be
achieved when you are at home; you must go around and look for votes,” Gachagua
fired.
“I want to tell Kenyans, it is a two-horse race - Ruto and
this united opposition -the rest are donkeys. If you will not be in this coalition,
forget it,”
Political analysts warn that if the unity holds, the 2027 race could
be a tightly contested showdown.
The leaders, however, vowed to back whoever will be fronted by the opposition
team to face Ruto.
“Kalonzo is a critical factor of what will happen in 2027. I
have been around for long. I have never been on the losing side. The side where
Kalonzo will belong will win the coming elections,” Gachagua said.
The Wiper function was attended by DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, PLP
leader Martha Karua, Matiang'i, and
former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.
Wamalwa said the opposition coalition will remain intact
contrary to speculation.
“Those who are hoping that we will split are in for a rude shock; we shall hold
together until we redeem the country,” Wamalwa said.
In a decisive move, Wiper delegates officially handed party leader Kalonzo the green light to vie for the presidency in 2027.
The endorsement now signals the former Vice President is ready to go full throttle in his quest to succeed William Ruto as the sixth President.
He will however have to convince his peers in the united opposition to back
his bid.
Wiper secretary general Shakila Abdalla while moving the motion described the
ex-VP as a mature and unifying figure who deserves a chance to lead the
country.
“We make the esteemed choice of nominating our presidential candidate Kalonzo
Musyoka for 2027, he is a unifying figure,” Shakila said amid cheers from the
delegates.
“In the changes, our party leader shall be deemed nominated
as presidential candidate at anytime there is vacancy in the position of the
President, unless the party leader expresses otherwise in writing.”
Speaking after the endorsement, Kalonzo expressed gratitude for the vote of
confidence and vowed to lead the party to victory in 2027.
"I accept your nomination to be your presidential candidate for the
elections scheduled for 2027," Kalonzo declared amid cheers from the
delegates.
“Let me take a moment to thank the Almighty God who has been my guide, to my
family and extended family in Kirinyaga.”
Kalonzo also thanked his “darling wife, Pauline, who is watching, the mother
of our children.”
“You are a vision bearer, you have been amazing, and every day, every
moment, you keep on amazing me. May the good Lord grant you the healing we all
have been waiting for.”
In addition to endorsing Kalonzo’s bid, delegates approved key amendments to
the party’s constitution, including the introduction of new internal election
rules aimed at enhancing transparency and inclusivity.
The reforms are expected to streamline the nomination process ahead of the
2027 polls.
Among the changes to the party’s election rules include giving all disgruntled
aspirants 24 hours to appeal an outcome of nomination or grassroots elections outcome.
Initially, the Wiper party was silent on the time for filing such
complaints.
The delegates also gave the party’s appeal mechanism five days to address
any appeal from the initial 10 days.
The delegates also granted the party leader expanded powers to fill vacant
positions within the party hierarchy without necessarily convening a national
meeting.
The move is seen as a strategic step to ensure continuity and organisational
stability.
Also in the amendments is the provision to allow the party to use consensus,
acclamation and direct tickets during nominations.
The current Wiper constitution restricts the party to use only secret ballot
to identify its candidates in seats that attract more than one candidate.
Early Friday morning excitement and anticipation filled the air as delegates converged at Uhuru Park in Nairobi for the much-anticipated NDC.
Delegates, dressed smartly in the party’s signature blue colours, began
streaming into the venue from all corners of the country as early as 7 am,
heeding the official notice that directed members to be seated by 10 am.
The park was a sea of blue — with
flags, banners, and posters bearing the party’s logo and slogan prominently
displayed across the grounds.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
With these resolutions, Wiper now enters a new
chapter, rallying behind Kalonzo as its undisputed flag bearer while arming him
with stronger tools to steer the party through a critical political season.
