By Anderson Ojwang
The new political kid on the block, Linda Mwananchi, on Thursday moved to “Linda” (protect) Wiper Party presidential candidate Kalonzo Musyoka from the attacks from President William Ruto.
Kalonzo admitted at the press conference that he was under a terrible attack by President Ruto and his teams, claiming that he was joining the government.
“I am thrilled because you have also come to Linda Kalonzo. Because I am under attack, a terrible attack that I met William Ruto,” he said.
Kalonzo said there were claims that on Thursday evening he was supposed to join President Ruto at the 7.00 pm presser on the conversation on the future of Kenya.
“There were claims that yesterday and that this morning I should be joining him for the 7.00 pm presser. You have come to Linda my name and through God I have Linda my name, constitution and our pride. I cannot make that terrible mistake,” he said.
Zanzibar
Kalonzo explained that on Tuesday, after a breakfast meeting with the Editors, he travelled to Zanzibar and was nowhere near meeting President Ruto.
He dismissed claims that he had met with President Ruto in State House and that the president’s bloggers were churning out fake news.
“The social media platforms were awash with me joining Ruto. I was in Zanzibar after having a meeting with editors. Yesterday I took a boat from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam and back to Nairobi,” he said.
The social media has been awash with video clips of Kalonzo in State House meeting President Ruto and that he was about to join the government.
Panicked
Kalonzo said President Ruto had panicked by the resurgence of the opposition and defections from UDA to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP and Linda Mwananchi.
In recent weeks, President Ruto’s allies in Mt Kenya – two governors, MPs and MCAs – have defected to DCP.
The Ol Kalou by-election loss by the UDA candidate by 86 percent to DCP sounded the end of UDA in Mt Kenya and the region withdrawing support for Ruto.
On Thursday, former Cabinet Minister Aisha Jumwa defected to Linda Mwananchi, claiming betrayal by President Ruto.
The defection of Jumwa is a big statement that UDA may be witnessing a mass exodus as Kenya walks into election year.
The former Cabinet Minister was a pillar of President Ruto in the coastal region, and her defection is a powerful statement of what could befall the President.
“I am happy you reached out to me. Kindly also engage other colleagues so that as we enter August, the election year, we are united. We have no time. Ruto and his team panicked,” he said.
2002 moment
Kalonzo said the country was witnessing the 2002 moment rehappening and warned that any opposition leader who goes against the grain will be washed away.
In the 2002 moment, former Kanu Secretary General, the late Raila Odinga, led top Kanu officials – Kalonzo, the late George Saitoti, Musalia Mudavadi – to the opposition after then President Daniel Moi picked Uhuru Kenyatta as the presidential candidate.
In 2002, Mudavadi moved back to Kanu and was appointed Vice President but lost the Sabatia parliamentary seat to little-known clergy Moses Akaranga.
Infuriated and disappointed, Mudavadi declined Kanu nomination to Parliament and instead was left in the sun and was only rehabilitated by Raila during the 2005 constitutional referendum.
“We have a 2002 moment. At that time, anyone of us who tried to look backwards was rejected by the public. Whoever wants to betray the public will find himself or herself in a political pit,” he said.
Kalonzo, referencing the biblical Lot, warned Sifuna and his opposition colleagues of the dangers of joining President Ruto.
“I want to make it clear before the public that if I hear Edwin you have met Ruto, if my brother Rigathi… Will you become like Bible Lot’s wife? Anybody looking back will be a betrayer of national consciousness,” he said.
Emissaries
Kalonzo admitted and said President Ruto has been sending emissaries to various opposition leaders to join him.
“They are sending all kinds of emissaries. We cannot fall into the trap. We must take Ruto home and liberate the country,” he said.
No to Ruto
Kalonzo has waved a red card to President Ruto, saying he cannot join the President.
“Ruto and his bloggers, stop dreaming. I want to assure our supporters that if I am the last man to drive Ruto out of State House, I will. I want to tell Mr William Ruto, please stop imagining that one Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka can ever join you. We will meet at the ballot. We will have that conversation at the ballot next year,” he said.
Hunting
Kalonzo said at the moment, opposition leaders have embarked on a hunting mission with a common agenda of delivering victory against Ruto.
“We have the right to a free democratic society and the right to go for the highest office in the land. We know my younger brother Edwin Sifuna is running for president. We have gone hunting and we are using different routes. We are going to unite. We are going to sacrifice to make the country a true democracy,” he said.
Ol Kalou blueprint
Kalonzo said the Ol Kalou by-election has set a blueprint for the opposition for the 2027 general elections.
“We pray to God to give Ruto and us good health so that we meet at the ballot. We can now consolidate our democracy and do away with pretence. Ol Kalou has brought a new dimension to the country’s politics,” he said.
“We wish Linda Mwananchi well. We are waiting for you. Once you have sorted your registration details, you are welcome.”
Azimio La Umoja
Kalonzo told Linda Mwananchi that Azimio La Umoja, where he is the party leader, was waiting for Linda Mwananchi to join them once they have completed the party registration.
“The Azimio Council is chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. We have visualised the way forward. I gave you my foot soldiers. This is the spirit of freedom. Standing in solidarity with colleagues,” he said.
