Kalonzo heads to South Nyanza in fresh hunt for votes

By  Cecil Odongo

Reporter

Nation Media Group

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka will Thursday begin a two-day tour of South Nyanza as he seeks to expand his political support in a region that overwhelmingly backed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Mr Musyoka will kick off his tour in Migori County, where he is scheduled to address public meetings in Ntimaru and Kehancha in Kuria East and Kuria West constituencies, respectively.

His motorcade will then make its way to Migori town, where he will conclude the first day with a rally at the iconic Posta Grounds.

On Friday, the former Vice-President will cross into neighbouring Homa Bay County, beginning with a visit to the mausoleum of independence hero Tom Mboya on Rusinga Island.

He will later address rallies in Oyugis town, Kasipul Constituency, and Kendu Bay in Karachuonyo Constituency.

The tour comes against the backdrop of growing divisions within the opposition following the heckling of Mr Musyoka during the launch of the Linda Mwananchi Movement party secretariat and the unveiling of its officials last Friday.

The incident triggered protests from his allies, who threatened to reconsider their position in the opposition if the Wiper leader continued to be disrespected. They have maintained that he is the opposition's strongest candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo told the Nation that Nyanza was familiar political territory for Mr Musyoka and expressed confidence that he would receive a warm welcome during the tour.

“Kalonzo is a familiar face in Nyanza and he was received well in Bondo during Raila’s first anniversary. Kenyans in South Nyanza and other regions know Kalonzo is the best bet for the presidency, and now he is strengthening the bases he had with Raila,” said Mr Maanzo.

“I visited Dr Oburu Oginga, the ODM party leader, and he was very happy and sent greetings to Kalonzo. Many ODM MPs and leaders are not against Kalonzo compared to other leaders, and that shows you the region is an option for us. We are equally targeting their votes,” he added.

Mr Maanzo was on Wednesday part of a delegation led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula that visited Dr Oginga at his Nairobi home. The ODM leader has been recuperating at home since his discharge from Nairobi Hospital last month.

The senator is banking on the political relationship between Mr Musyoka and the late Mr Odinga, whom the Wiper leader supported in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.

“We are going there to promote Kalonzo’s presidency and also show that we are not looking for votes in Ukambani and his other strongholds alone. We know there are issues in the opposition, but the only ticket we will accept, and which we are sure can bring the opposition together and win, is the Kalonzo-Sifuna ticket,” said Mr Maanzo.

In the 2013 and 2017 elections, Mr Musyoka served as Mr Odinga’s running mate. In 2022, he was also part of the Azimio la Umoja coalition that backed Mr Odinga’s presidential bid.

However, the two politicians had a bitter falling-out ahead of the 2007 General Election after disagreeing over who should carry the Orange Democratic Movement presidential ticket.

Mr Musyoka eventually contested the presidency on an ODM-Kenya ticket, a party registered by Mr Maanzo, while Mr Odinga ran on the original ODM ticket, which he acquired from lawyer Mugambi Imanyara.

Mr Musyoka was last in Nyanza on October 15, when he attended the first anniversary memorial of Mr Odinga at Migwena Grounds. During the event, he urged the region to rally behind the opposition in its efforts to remove President Ruto from power.

“I’m the same Kalonzo who supported Raila, and we will still reach Canaan. President Ruto must go. He will be a one-term President, and I will be back,” he said.

Kitui MP Makali Mulu said the heckling incident at Mr Sifuna’s event had strengthened sympathy for the Wiper leader in Nyanza, arguing that residents appreciated his loyalty to Mr Odinga.

“Nyanza is an option for us, and the people will embrace Kalonzo because of how he stood with Raila. In fact, when we were in Bondo, they were saying the only debt they have to repay is to Kalonzo and not any other politician.

“They were complaining that we had allowed the region to be taken by non-starters, but now we are back. We want to assure the people of Nyanza that they are in our fold and will be part of Kalonzo’s presidency,” said Mr Mulu.

He said Wiper leaders would now focus on Mr Musyoka’s vote-hunting mission to boost his national popularity, maintaining that the former Mwingi North MP was the best candidate to challenge President Ruto in 2027.

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