Wiper Party members in Laikipia County have intensified calls for party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to be considered as the presidential candidate of the United Opposition in the 2027 General Election.
The members argue that Kalonzo’s long experience in national politics makes him the most suitable candidate to lead the opposition into the next election, pointing to his experience as Vice President during the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
Speaking to the media in Nanyuki, Wiper leaders and political aspirants said the opposition should resolve the question of its presidential candidate early enough to give the eventual flagbearer sufficient time to build a nationwide campaign.
They argued that prolonged negotiations over the opposition ticket could weaken the coalition’s chances against its political rivals.
The leaders are also pushing back against any arrangement that would see opposition parties restrict themselves to particular regions or constituencies under a zoning agreement.
They said Wiper intends to field candidates across the country, arguing that the party has grown beyond being a regional political outfit.
The position could complicate ongoing efforts by opposition parties to negotiate a united political front ahead of 2027.
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While the opposition has repeatedly talked about the need for unity, one of the biggest challenges has been agreeing on who should lead such an alliance.
For Wiper supporters in Laikipia, the answer is Kalonzo Musyoka.
They believe his long political career, experience in government and previous role as Vice President give him an advantage over other potential contenders.
But the push for Kalonzo also comes at a time when several opposition figures are positioning themselves for the 2027 contest, making the question of the opposition’s presidential ticket one of the most consequential political negotiations ahead of the election.
Wiper’s rejection of zoning adds another layer to the negotiations.
By insisting that it will field candidates across the country, the party appears keen to protect its political space as opposition parties consider how to distribute seats and positions within a possible coalition.
The message from Laikipia is therefore clear: Wiper wants Kalonzo considered seriously for the top opposition ticket, but it is also unwilling to enter an alliance at the expense of its own national ambitions.
With the 2027 election approaching, the opposition’s biggest test may not only be defeating its political rivals, but also agreeing on a formula that keeps its competing ambitions under one umbrella.
For now, Wiper’s position is that the decision on the presidential candidate should come early and that Kalonzo Musyoka should be at the centre of that conversation.
