Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has revisited the behind-the-scenes negotiations that saw former President Mwai Kibaki appoint Uhuru Kenyatta as Deputy Prime Minister after the disputed 2007 elections.
In a podcast interview on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Kalonzo dismissed claims that Kibaki was tribal, stressing that the late president often acted beyond ethnic considerations.
He revealed that he personally urged Kibaki to appoint Uhuru following the Kofi Annan-led mediation talks.
“Kibaki was never a tribalist. Let me give you another example of why he wasn’t. It was me who actually convinced him to appoint Uhuru Kenyatta as Deputy Prime Minister after the Kofi Annan talks, and he said, ‘Kalonzo, how do you expect me to appoint another Gikuyu to be a Deputy Prime Minister?’” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo explained that during the negotiations, ODM leader Raila Odinga, who had secured the Prime Minister’s post after the Annan-led talks, chose Musalia Mudavadi as his Deputy. Within the PNU alliance, however, Kalonzo felt it made more strategic sense for Uhuru Kenyatta to take the position. He revealed that Uhuru was unaware he was quietly lobbying for him behind the scenes.
“Remember, Raila had picked Mudavadi as his Deputy Prime Minister after Kofi Annan talks, and now within the PNU alliance, we had consultations with friends; even Uhuru didn’t know I had to confront Kibaki, and Kibaki refused. If there was a man who was never a tribalist, it was Kibaki,” Kalonzo recalled.
He further defended Kibaki’s record, pointing to the late Vice President Michael Wamalwa as an example of how Kibaki worked seamlessly across ethnic lines. Kalonzo also referenced his own tenure as Vice President under Kibaki, arguing that critics who label the late president a tribalist misrepresent his legacy.
Kalonzo Dismisses 2027 Defection Rumors
Kalonzo Musyoka also dismissed speculation that he plans to join the government ahead of the 2027 elections. He explained that whenever he considers making a major political move, he first seeks consultations, prays, and only then makes a decision. According to him, that has been his guiding principle in politics throughout his career.
“That is why these naysayers keep on saying Kalonzo will join Ruto at the last minute. Last minute, ya wapi? Those who know me know that first I consult, then I pray, and then I move. There is no way you can see how I played a role in making Kibaki president,” Kalonzo said.
Positioning himself as a central figure in the United Opposition, Kalonzo stressed that his decades of political experience have made him an expert in coalition building.
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