Kalonzo and allies deserve the laggards' trophy

**Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses a past press conference**. [File, Standard]

Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has put forward a new theory that Raila Odinga is Kenya’s political ‘turncoat’ of the century.

The former CS says if there’s anyone who merits the ‘watermelon’ label, it isn’t Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka but the ODM leader, given the many hands he has shaken since 2007. On Tuesday alongside opposition leaders Martha Karua and Mr Musyoka, Mr Wamalwa claimed that Mr Odinga’s ‘presence’ in government will ruin key reforms outlined in the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee (Nadco) report.

The three politicians, out of the blues, alleged discreet plans to hire allies of President William Ruto and the former premier to run the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying ongoing interviews are a smokescreen. ODM refutes these claims.

That wasn’t all. The opposition chiefs cautioned that should Dr Ruto and Mr Odinga sideline other Kenyans in decision-making, it will attract a messy political and legal backlash.

Mr Musyoka has since written to Baba and the president, demanding ‘consultation and concurrence’ on IEBC and the Nadco report.

Here now, it’s worth remembering that Nadco, co-chaired by Mr Musyoka and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, was formed to enable consensus on legal and policy reforms following a bitter Ruto-Odinga post-election fallout in 2023, which led to nationwide protests.

The committee’s key proposal tabled in Parliament on December 7, 2023 was creation of offices of Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister. With Dr Ruto and Mr Odinga having signed a UDA-ODM pact on March 7, there’s street talk that ‘some people somewhere’ want Mr Odinga to be prime minister.

Yet, listening to Mr Musyoka, Mr Wamalwa and Ms Karua’s rage early this week, they lacked a solid ideological stand on Nadco and IEBC, only poking holes in these processes. They are victims of poor strategy and raw frustration who’ve turned to opportunism. Their big fear? Mr Odinga’s growing influence in the Ruto regime, and their own tragedy of being perpetual laggards.

Why is Mr Musyoka never proactive but reactionary? In 2017, Wiper badly bit the dust in the Uhuru-Raila deal, thanks to his indecisiveness and tactless cheerleaders like Enoch Wambua and Robert Mbui. What I gather from Tuesday’s rant is that some ‘talking Toms’ want a slice of government but won’t admit it.

If the opposition genuinely opposes ‘selective’ implementation of the Nadco report, why haven’t they openly demanded amendments? Mr Musyoka and Wamalwa were part of the committee, and should be the happiest if it’s implemented. Their posturing over IEBC and Nadco has less to do with Kenya’s progress and more with weakening Dr Ruto before 2027.

If handing more opposition figures a slice of the pie will appease them, so be it. But for anyone to discredit IEBC interviewees like Ms Joy Midivo on the basis of relations and political connections alone, they miss the point. After all, those who will run IEBC must be Kenyans, who’ve friends, relatives and ‘ties’ in Kenya.

Niccolo Machiavelli famously said ‘if the ship sinks, let it sink with all of us.’ The message? Collective responsibility is important. Yet, instead of working towards real solutions on critical issues like election reforms, health, education, security and the economy, Mr Musyoka and allies are fixated on resistance to reform efforts by Dr Ruto for the sake of it.

Honestly, Kenya’s current opposition deserves pity. Together with truthful man Rigathi Gachagua, they lack a coherent vision, they can’t fill Mr Odinga’s shoes, and won’t offer any compelling alternative to Kenya Kwanza. It’s no wonder Kenyans mock them as the most ‘disorganised’ in our multiparty history.

As we near 2027, Mr Musyoka’s team should focus more on solutions. Their gaffes mirror Democratic Party’s schemes during Donald Trump’s first term in 2017. They resisted Mr Trump’s policies without presenting a clear alternative to American voters.

If the opposition can’t understand its role, it should step aside and let the ‘broad-based’ brothers work.

-The writer is a communications practitioner. X:@markoloo