In a rare show of unity, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua led a series of political rallies across Ukambani on Friday, as part of a broader effort to strengthen the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The joint tour, branded the Whistle Stop, began in Sultan Hamud and wound its way through Emali, Makindu, Kibwezi, and Kinyambu-Kambu/Machinery, drawing hundreds of locals at each stop. The two leaders also made an unscheduled visit to Malili, where they were met with cheering crowds waving party flags and chanting slogans.
“Thank you, Malili, for your warm welcome to United Opposition supporters on this whistle-stop tour,” Kalonzo posted on social media shortly after addressing the crowd.
In his address, Kalonzo struck a tone of unity and urgency: “This is the moment for all who believe in justice, in fairness, and in a better Kenya, to stand together. We cannot afford to wait until it is too late.”
Gachagua, who only recently returned to the public spotlight after months of political silence following his ouster as deputy president, echoed the sentiment. “We may come from different parties and histories,” he told supporters in Makindu, “but we face the same struggles. Now is the time to put ego aside and speak with one voice.”
The tour marks the first coordinated public campaign effort by the two opposition leaders, who until now had kept their interactions largely behind closed doors. Analysts say it could be the beginning of a larger political realignment in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
The renewed alliance is likely to rattle both the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and other opposition figures positioning themselves for power. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, speaking at a separate event, warned Kalonzo against “surrounding himself with those who have betrayed others before,” in what many interpreted as a thinly veiled jab at Gachagua.
Still, Friday’s events showed a united front. The leaders focused heavily on local issues, including stalled infrastructure projects, drought relief, and the rising cost of living. They promised to return with concrete plans and solutions.
In Kibwezi, Kalonzo also touched briefly on his wife Pauline’s ongoing illness, thanking residents for their prayers. “I can never do enough to give her comfort,” he said, his voice low, “but I draw strength from your love.”
With more rallies planned in the coming weeks, all eyes will be on whether this new alliance holds—and whether it can rally a fractured opposition into a force capable of challenging the government come 2027.
As Kalonzo told the crowd in Emali: “This is only the beginning.”
