Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka dismissed the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, arguing that Kenya secured the hosting rights due to divisions among Francophone nations rather than its own merit.
Speaking at the Seed of Hope Church in Donholm on Sunday, Kalonzo urged President William Ruto to temper his celebrations. He contended that while Kenya projects an image of a peaceful democracy to the world, the internal reality involves public distress, human rights violations, and the active suppression of political opposition.
Kalonzo suggested that the public should not over-glorify Kenya’s selection as host. He noted that Francophone nations traditionally dominate Africa-France summits and claimed that Kenya only received this opportunity because of current geopolitical shifts.
“There is a lot of realignment in West Africa, and that is how they convinced Ruto to host the event in Kenya,” he stated, linking the summit’s location to instability elsewhere on the continent.
The opposition leader further insisted that President Ruto has no grounds to brag about the summit as a victory for local democracy or freedom. Kalonzo argued that the country still grapples with serious concerns regarding human rights and the freedoms of expression and worship. Highlighting what he views as a gap between government rhetoric and the citizens’ experience, he remarked, “While Kenya is a nation under stress, there are a lot of injustices while we pretend we respect democracy.”
Kalonzo argued that Kenya cannot genuinely claim to uphold the freedom of worship while the family of Reverend Julius Ndumia Ngari still awaits justice. The Reverend, a leader at the PCEA Tabuga Church in Nakuru County, was recently killed in a shocking incident that has left his congregation reeling.
Referring to the timing of the summit, Kalonzo noted, “Tomorrow will be an important day as African leaders gather in Nairobi while the country buries a spiritual leader. We hope they won’t teargas us as they have done before, even in church. A spiritual leader can be murdered in a church in Nakuru PCEA, and justice has not been served.”
In addition to his concerns over domestic safety, the Wiper leader called for an urgent investigation into allegations that foreigners are illegally obtaining Kenyan identification documents. He warned that these security breaches compromise the country’s national safety and the integrity of future elections. Specifically, he highlighted reports of truck drivers from Somalia bypassing legal channels to secure citizenship papers through bribery.
Kalonzo shared a specific account of this alleged corruption, claiming that “truck drivers from Mogadishu, Somalia…178 of them were issued IDs after paying some money, and within three weeks, they had IDs.” He further alleged that these individuals are now being encouraged to use those same illicit documents to acquire Kenyan passports.
Kalonzo Musyoka further condemned recent inflammatory remarks from politicians who suggest that certain leaders are unwelcome in specific parts of the country. He rejected the idea of “zoning” or restricting movement based on political affiliation, calling such sentiments a threat to national unity. The Wiper leader maintains that true democracy only exists when every Kenyan leader can travel, visit, and speak freely in any region without fear of harassment or hostility.
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