Ruto sympathisers revive 2007 ghosts to whittle down Kalonzo’s influence on Raila’s strongholds

Allies of President William Ruto have launched a coordinated political offensive against Kalonzo Musyoka, reviving memories of his 2007 fallout with Raila Odinga in a bid to blunt the Wiper leader’s influence among Raila’s supporters.

What began as a solemn condolence visit to Raila’s family in Bondo has morphed into a heated political battle, with some leaders from ODM and UDA launching political attacks on the former Vice President.

Kalonzo’s trip to Bondo to pay respects to the Odinga family rekindled his journey with Raila, whom he backed for three consecutive elections — 2013 and 2017 as running mate and 2022.

The visit and remarks made, particularly by Siaya Governor James Orengo, however, also reopened long-buried divisions dating back to the 2007 controversial election in which Raila is widely believed to have been rigged out.

During the visit, Siaya Governor James Orengo heaped praise on Kalonzo, describing him as a “fearless and dependable ally” and urging the Luo community to “reciprocate the political friendship and loyalty he has shown Raila and the ODM family over the years.”

The remarks, widely read as an endorsement of Kalonzo, sparked immediate backlash from both UDA and ODM.

Ruto allies were quick to portray Kalonzo as untrustworthy and opportunistic, a man seeking to capitalise on Raila’s demise to position himself as his successor.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei accused Kalonzo of political hypocrisy and betrayal.

“Kalonzo should stop pontificating himself in the death of Baba Raila Odinga yet he didn’t stand with him when it mattered in 2007,” he said.

“He sabotaged and betrayed Raila by running against him, then crossed over to join Kibaki’s government. He is a calculative opportunist that the Luo nation must shun like a plague.”

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa went further, warning that any attempt to elevate Kalonzo in 2027 would amount to handing power back to Ruto’s former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

“Electing Kalonzo would effectively grant Raila’s top hater, impeached Rigathi Gachagua, 50 per cent control of the next government,” Barasa argued. “That’s perilous.”

Barasa also revisited the 2007 split, noting that Kalonzo’s decision to run under ODM-Kenya divided the opposition vote.

“He got 879,903 votes and later joined Kibaki as Vice President. Had he stood by Baba, the 5.2 million votes would have delivered victory,” Barasa added.

The attacks were echoed by Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma (ODM), who accused Kalonzo of aligning with Gachagua, a man he claims bears responsibility for the 2023 cost-of-living protest killings.

“Kalonzo has zero support from our people as long as he associates with Gachagua, who ordered the killing of our people and championed our exclusion,” Kaluma claimed.

Beyond the political class, the assault on Kalonzo has spread to the media and online spaces, with lawyer Joshua Nyamori and blogger Gabriel Oguda leading a similar campaign on television and social media: They accuse Kalonzo of betraying Raila in 2007 and warn the Luo community against embracing him as Raila’s heir.

“Raila Odinga would have died a retired president, but only died a people’s president because of betrayal from Kalonzo Musyoka facilitated by Senator Dan Maanzo. That cannot be forgotten,” Nyamori said on Citizen TV on Thursday.

“About the funeral and Kalonzo being welcomed there, in our community we welcome everybody. However, as a community, there are certain values and things that we celebrate and stand with.

“We celebrate President Ruto for not only standing with Raila in 2007 at that critical moment but also for ensuring that he does what is necessary to bring the Luo back in government.”

Oguda, on the other hand, said that at the height of the clamour for the new constitution, Kalonzo began the clamour to discredit Raila, even threatening to join the NO camp.

Political observers say the strategy is deliberate — a bid by Ruto sympathisers to delegitimise Kalonzo’s credibility among Raila’s grassroots base and prevent him from consolidating Azimio’s support ahead of 2027.

The attacks also reflect jitters within Kenya Kwanza that a unified opposition under Kalonzo could pose a serious electoral threat.