By Anderson Ojwang
History could be beckoning in the 2027 presidential election with the country’s last vice president Kalonzo Musyoka facing off with the Kenya’s first deputy president and the current president William Ruto.
In the Kenya’s political history, most of the vice Presidents rose and succeeded to becoming president save for only the country’s first vice president the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Odinga after the fall out with founding president the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, was left to occupy the cold opposition seat and was never re-integrated into the government.
Kenyatta instead appointed Daniel Moi to succeed Odinga who eventually became the president and ruled the country for 24 years.
Moi’s first Vice President was Mwai Kibaki, who served in that role from 1978 until 1988. Kibaki became the first opposition leader to become the president after he defeated Kanu’s Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2002 general elections.
During the 2007, controversial Presidential election, Kalonzo entered into a political alliance and was subsequently appointed the Vice President and became the country’s last VP in the old constitution.
In the 2010 constitution, President Uhuru Kenyatta had Ruto as his deputy who eventually edged out his preferred candidate, former prime minister Raila Odinga at the presidential ballot.
Kalonzo who shares most of qualities like Kibaki, is currently the opposition leader after Raila opted to join the broad-based alliance and is viewed as the probable united opposition presidential candidate.
Currently, delegations have started streaming to Kalonzo’s Yatta home village, a significance of a possibility that he could be the united opposition presidential flag bearer.
In 2007, Kalonzo was able to pass in the middle of warring Kibaki and Raila to become the vice president and this time around 2027 present him with a moment face off with Ruto and set a precedent.
The recent opinion poll by Centre for Africa Progress (CAP) rates Kalonzo as the most preferred opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential elections.
In a report released on July 23, 2025, Kalonzo had 36 percent, followed by former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i (23%), former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (16%), Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya (14%), Martha Karua (7%), and others 4%.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is the most preferred opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential elections, according to the Centre for Africa Progress (CAP) latest opinion poll.
In a report released on July 23, 2025, Kalonzo had 36 percent, followed by former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i (23%), former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (16%), Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya (14%), Martha Karua (7%), and others 4%.
This was after CAP conducted the survey across all 47 counties between 10th July – 13th July 2025. The sample comprised 5,000 registered voters.
The study adopted random, multi-stage stratified using PPS (proportionate to population size) selected from all the 47 counties.
Data was collected using telephone interviews and analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel with a margin error of 1.5 percent and a 95% confidence level.
The United Opposition alliance could possibly lock out President Ruto from Mt Kenya and Ukambani, Kisii where former internal security cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi enjoys massive support.
President Ruto will have in his basket the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Northeastern while Western, Nairobi, Coast regions would be the battle ground.
In the United opposition, Kalonzo will have in his camp the battle-hardened former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya of Tawe Movement, Eugene Wamalwa, Matiangi , Martha Karua among other opposition leaders.
Raila who has been the fulcrum of the opposition is likely not to be at the ballot and could possibly support Ruto’s re-election after he recently declared that their union will go beyond 2027.
He challenged the opposition that the people will decide at the ballot and that each team will table their agenda to the electorates.
Kalonzo is enjoying the support of youthful leaders including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino among others that is likely to draw the youth votes to him.
Babu Owino has since joined hands with fellow young politicians under the banner Kenya Moja, led by Edwin Sifuna.
Babu said “To you, your excellency Kalonzo Musyoka, go ye and conquer the nation and during an interview on K24 on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the two-term MP said he sees no problem working with Kalonzo.
Why is it that all over sudden Kalonzo has become a bad person? Kalonzo supported us for three terms. Martha Karua was our deputy, is it wrong to support them? They were with us; they were part of us. The function of opposition is check and balances and ensuring the government delivers, that is the role of the opposition,” he said.
During the recent LSK conference in Coast, Kalonzo wrote “Had a productive chat with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna in Kwale this afternoon. Exchanged numbers – I have a feeling this connection could lead to some exciting things.”
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti said they were looking at Kalonzo to be the next president of Kenya.
“Kalonzo we are looking at you to be the next president of Kenya. We should not be people who use Kalonzo for their own gain. Our focus is one, Kalonzo’s presidency. You are not tainted and proven leader.” She spoke.
Will Kalonzo be a second time luckier to land presidency and follow the footsteps of the former vice presidents?
