- Kalonzo has been a harsh critic of the broad-based government formed by Ruto to quell political temperatures following a series of Gen Z-led street protests.
- The Wiper party leader has been vocal about his refusal to work with Ruto, saying at one time that his conscience won’t allow him.
Image: KALONZO MUSYOKA./X
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka now claims Raila Odinga got a raw deal in the broad-based government that saw four of his ODM lieutenants sucked in the Kenya Kwanza Cabinet.
Speaking during an interview on TV47 Wednesday night, Kalonzo says he cautioned Raila about the deal, saying it ran a high risk of putting his succession plans in jeopardy.
He said the four—Wycliffe Oparanya, Hassan Joho, Opiyo Wandayi, and John Mbadi left to join the government without any written agreement between their party and President William Ruto’s UDA-led Kenya Kwanza administration.
“They left on their own volition without any coalition agreement. These are now employees of President William Ruto,” he said.
“I tried to evaluate the arrangement and found it confusing. I don’t want to defend Raila, but he was played big time by Ruto, and I asked him, I feel like this issue will jeopardise your political succession,” Kalonzo said and indicated he would not wish to discuss the matter any further.
Kalonzo has been a harsh critic of the broad-based government formed by Ruto to quell political temperatures following a series of Gen Z-led street protests to demand accountability and better governance.
Ruto said during a town hall meeting in Mombasa that he approached several leaders intending to incorporate them into the new-look government, but they declined the offer.
The Wiper Party leader has, however, been vocal about his refusal to work with Ruto, saying at one time that his conscience won’t allow him.
"They think that I, Kalonzo Musyoka, can join their government? I can't, my conscience will not allow me. For the love of this nation, we will stand. Even President William Ruto knows that I will be his opposition, that he openly knows," Kalonzo said while speaking in Othaya, Nyeri county on July 26.
He criticised ODM for abandoning what they were fighting for from the opposition flanks by agreeing to work with the government even after Raila went on record saying he played no role in soliciting for the Cabinet secretary posts for his closest allies.
Raila, however, wished the four all the best, saying, “We extend our best wishes to the nominees and trust that they will contribute positively to national development,” he said in a statement to newsrooms the same day Kalonzo trashed the broad-based government.
Ruto appointed former Mombasa governor Joho the Mining, Blue Economy CS, Oparanya (cooperatives), Mbadi (National Treasury) and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum).
Kalonzo is angling to replace Raila as the Azimio leader following the former Prime Minister's bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
Coalition co-principals led by Eugene Wamalwa said on Tuesday they had agreed by consensus that Kalonzo was the best pick to succeed Raila.