Wiper picks Kalonzo for 2027 race as he vows to ‘reclaim Kenya’

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The Wiper Party on Friday declared Kalonzo Musyoka its presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election, setting the stage for a renewed push to challenge President William Ruto’s rule and reshape Kenya’s opposition politics.

At a packed Uhuru Park, thousands of delegates, dressed in the party’s signature blue, cheered as Kalonzo accepted the nomination — his clearest signal yet that he will not play second fiddle in the next election.

His speech was fiery, emotional, and charged with the urgency of a man positioning himself as the moral alternative to a government he described as “insensitive and exploitative.”

 “Kenyans are overtaxed, underpaid, and overburdened. Each day dawns with a new levy, a new penalty, and a new heartbreak. We pay taxes for services we never receive — no jobs, no medicine, no food, and no relief,” he said.

Mr Musyoka accused President William Ruto’s government of betraying the public trust through misplaced priorities and punitive policies.

 He mocked the Bottom-Up Economic Model as “an economic funeral” rather than a strategy for empowerment.

 “They call it Bottom-Up Economics, but what we see is bottomless corruption and top-down greed,” he said, to loud applause.

The former Vice-President outlined his vision for what he called a Patriotic Administration — one anchored on integrity, innovation, and inclusive growth. 

He pledged to establish a 24-hour economy, lower fuel and electricity costs, and roll out youth enterprise funds at county level.

He also promised to strengthen education by funding schools adequately and giving equal recognition to both academic and vocational training. 

His plan, he said, would also deliver affordable healthcare, end police brutality, protect freedoms, and unite a politically divided nation.

“Our people are working hard every day. It’s time their government worked hard for them too,” he said.

Mr Musyoka’s tone was combative and confident — an unmistakable signal that he is ready to stand on his own after years of playing second to Mr Raila Odinga in the Azimio coalition.

For more than a decade, he has deferred his own ambitions in favour of coalition unity.

 But Friday’s endorsement appeared to mark a turning point, positioning him as the most visible alternative to President Ruto should Mr Odinga stay out of the 2027 race.

“Ruto ordered for you to be shot not in the head but in the legs because you dared to exercise your constitutional rights,” he said. 

“I urge all of you here to shoot Ruto at the ballot.”

The endorsement gives the opposition landscape a new focal point. 

With Mr Odinga yet to announce his political future, Mr Musyoka’s campaign could emerge as the rallying force for disenchanted voters seeking a new face of resistance.

If he succeeds, Mr Musyoka could redefine the post-handshake opposition and challenge the ruling coalition’s dominance heading into 2027.

Delegates at the conference also endorsed a proposal to rename the party from Wiper Democratic Movement to Wiper Patriotic Front, signalling a national rebrand meant to reflect unity, honesty, and public service.

Party officials said the new identity marks the start of a broader campaign to present Wiper as a national alternative ready to lead government, not just to oppose it.

As the event drew to a close, chants of “Twendeni kazi!” filled the air as Mr Musyoka waved to the crowd--a veteran politician stepping into what could be the most defining race of his career.

Whether he can turn years of loyalty into a credible national crusade remains to be seen.

But one thing was clear on Friday--Kalonzo Musyoka is done waiting.