Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed suggestions that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta is directing opposition efforts to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election. Speaking at the ACK Cathedral in Embu, Kalonzo was clear that opposition leaders are making their own political decisions without being orchestrated by anyone else.
"Do not paint a picture that Uhuru is organising us to face Ruto. We are organising ourselves to face Ruto and nobody will do it for us," Kalonzo stated firmly.
His remarks come as media outlets have been linking Uhuru's planned role in an upcoming Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Council meeting to broader efforts to reorganize the opposition ahead of the next election.
Kalonzo explained that opposition leaders are independently strategizing on how to approach the 2027 election race. He emphasized that they are making these moves on their own terms, not under anyone's direction.
However, he warned political actors against using Uhuru's involvement to suggest that the former president is the mastermind behind any opposition comeback bid against the current administration.
The Wiper leader has long maintained his position against working with President Ruto. He has consistently called for opposition unity, insisting that like-minded political leaders must come together to offer Kenyans an alternative political direction.
This stance has been central to his messaging as the opposition seeks to rebuild after losing the 2022 presidential election.
Kalonzo also clarified Uhuru's role within the Azimio coalition structure. He noted that Uhuru's position should be viewed strictly through his capacity as the council chair of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, and not as someone who is secretly orchestrating opposition political strategies.
"Uhuru is a retired President, but he is also the council chair of Azimio la Umoja. I am the party leader of Azimio," Kalonzo said, drawing a clear distinction between the two roles.
The opposition coalition itself was formed ahead of the 2022 General Election as a broad alliance of political parties and leaders seeking to compete against William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
The coalition included parties such as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper Democratic Movement, Jubilee Party, and other smaller political formations that rallied behind Raila Odinga's presidential bid.
Despite losing that election, Azimio has remained active as an opposition structure. The upcoming council meeting led by Uhuru is expected to focus on strengthening the coalition's organizational capacity rather than plotting against the Ruto government, according to Kalonzo's explanation.
"The meeting Uhuru chairs on Monday is just about moving Azimio forward and not arranging how to tackle Ruto," Kalonzo explained. This suggests that the opposition coalition is focused on consolidating its internal structures and strategy as it looks ahead to 2027, rather than being driven by any single personality or hidden agenda.
As opposition leaders continue their political positioning ahead of the next election cycle, Kalonzo's statements appear designed to push back against perceptions that the movement lacks independent leadership.
The remarks also suggest some tension within the opposition about who holds real decision-making power and whether retired politicians should be seen as central figures in shaping the opposition's future direction.
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