Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has launched one of his strongest political rebukes yet against President William Ruto, accusing him of “betrayal” over what he described as interference in the affairs of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), as fresh political alignments begin taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at the Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) headquarters in Nairobi after hosting a delegation from Nyanza, Kalonzo invoked decades of political history with opposition leader Raila Odinga, framing their shared past as a foundation of trust, struggle, and democratic resistance that he said should not be undermined by shifting political alliances.
“This afternoon I hosted a delegation from Nyanza at WPF Headquarters, Nairobi, and I want to speak plainly about what brought us together,” Kalonzo said. “Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga and I walked a long road together. We faced moments of real danger and in those moments, we did not flinch. What bound us was not just politics. It was trust, forged over decades of shared struggle for this country.”
The remarks come at a politically sensitive moment when leaders aligned to both government and opposition are increasingly repositioning themselves in anticipation of the 2027 general election, with shifting alliances and quiet negotiations reshaping Kenya’s opposition landscape.
Kalonzo, who has often positioned himself as a long-standing opposition figure and a key ally-turned-rival-turned-partner of Raila in various election cycles, used the gathering to revisit the history of the ODM party and its origins in Kenya’s reform struggle.
“ODM is Raila’s blood and history,” he said. “The Odinga family, from Jaramogi to Raila, gave this country its democratic spine. What William Ruto has done to that party is not politics. It is betrayal and I will call it that.”
The accusation, though not detailed with specific incidents, appeared to reference ongoing political realignments in which some opposition figures have been accused by hardline supporters of softening their stance toward the Kenya Kwanza administration.
President Ruto, who led a broad opposition coalition after winning the 2022 election, has in recent months reached out to leaders from across the political divide in what he has described as a national unity and development agenda. His allies, however, have dismissed accusations of “betrayal politics,” arguing that engagement across political lines is necessary for stability and development.
Kalonzo’s comments suggest growing discomfort within sections of the opposition over what they view as quiet defections and political compromises by some leaders who once campaigned on anti-establishment platforms.
He also invoked the youth-led protests of 2024, suggesting that some political leaders abandoned the spirit of the demonstrations for personal gain.
“Kenya’s youth of 2024 rose up with courage, yet some of the leaders around them chose, at that very moment, to cut deals with the same regime they were protesting,” he said. “That is not change. That is surrender.”
The 2024 protests, driven largely by young Kenyans frustrated with the cost of living, taxation, and governance issues, marked one of the most significant waves of civic unrest in recent years. The demonstrations forced political leaders across the spectrum to respond, but also triggered behind-the-scenes negotiations that have since reshaped alliances in unpredictable ways.
Kalonzo, who has repeatedly sought to present himself as a consistent opposition voice, emphasized continuity in his political stance, arguing that his positions have not shifted for convenience.
“I have been consistent for over fifteen years,” he said. “Not because it has been easy, but because Kenya deserves leaders who mean what they say. History will know who they are.”
Political analysts say Kalonzo’s remarks reflect a broader attempt to reassert influence within opposition politics, particularly as Raila’s political future remains uncertain and as emerging opposition formations begin to coalesce.
In recent months, opposition leaders have been engaged in parallel consultations, some overt and others discreet, as they attempt to define a unified strategy against Ruto’s re-election bid. The fragmentation of opposition politics has remained one of the key factors shaping Kenya’s electoral contests over the past decade.
At the Nyanza delegation meeting, Kalonzo sought to reaffirm ties with Raila’s political base while also appealing to a broader opposition audience disillusioned with shifting alliances.
“Honour Raila,” he said. “Honour what he built. And together tutakomboa Kenya.”
The remarks are likely to intensify debate within political circles about the future of opposition unity, particularly at a time when both government and opposition figures are accused of quietly negotiating cross-party arrangements.
While Kalonzo did not provide evidence for his claim of “betrayal,” his framing reflects a deepening mistrust between rival camps as early positioning for 2027 gains momentum.
