Kalonzo Musyoka’s inner circle is pushing back against the prospect of the Wiper leader deputising Edwin Sifuna, insisting he should lead the opposition’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s allies are resisting an equation that would place Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna at the head of the opposition presidential ticket, arguing that Kalonzo should be the candidate rather than the running mate.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo and other figures associated with Kalonzo’s political camp have been linked to the push for his presidential candidacy, citing his experience and years of participation in opposition politics.
Kalonzo served as Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections and backed his candidacy again under the Azimio coalition in 2022.
For his allies, another deputy ticket would raise questions about when the veteran opposition leader gets his opportunity to seek the presidency in his own right, and Sifuna complicates the succession battle.
His emergence as a presidential contender has added a new dimension to the opposition’s succession debate.
Kalonzo’s camp has increasingly been associated with a proposed ticket pairing him as presidential candidate and Sifuna as running mate, reversing suggestions that the Wiper leader could deputise the Nairobi senator.
The proposal has also received public backing from Matungulu MP Stephen Mule, who recently expressed confidence that Kalonzo would lead the opposition ticket with Sifuna as his deputy.
Kalonzo had indicated in August that he was open to deputising Sifuna if the opposition selected the senator as its presidential candidate.
Wiper subsequently clarified that the party leader had not committed to taking the deputy position and would support whoever emerged as the coalition’s flag-bearer.
