Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has appealed to voters in the Nyanza region to support his 2027 presidential bid, saying it would be a fitting political return for the years he stood with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Saturday during a church service at Nyakango SDA Church in Rangwe constituency, Homa Bay county, Kalonzo said he had walked a long political journey with Raila and now expected the region to reciprocate that loyalty at the ballot.
“I supported Raila Odinga for 15 years. It is now your turn to give me your votes,” Kalonzo told the congregation.
The former Vice President, who was accompanied by Embakasi South MP Julius Mawathe, Wiper Patriotic Front officials and other leaders, said he considered himself a custodian of Raila’s political vision and would continue pursuing the ideals the former premier championed.
Kalonzo’s visit to Homa Bay comes as opposition leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Nyanza expected to remain a critical political battleground.
The region has for decades overwhelmingly backed Raila and the Orange Democratic Movement, making Kalonzo’s direct appeal significant in the evolving opposition succession debate.
He told residents that his long association with Raila was not accidental, saying he had remained loyal through difficult political seasons and had paid a personal political price for that support.
“I know Raila’s vision. I carry that vision, and I believe the journey we started together must continue,” Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader also used the Homa Bay visit to criticize President William Ruto’s development agenda in the region, arguing that government projects had not translated into meaningful economic relief for ordinary residents.
He said many people in Homa Bay and across the lakeside region were still struggling despite repeated promises of development by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Kalonzo questioned the impact of government programmes in the county, saying poverty remained widespread and that even the economic potential of Lake Victoria had not been fully harnessed to improve livelihoods.
He said the government should focus on practical interventions that put money in people’s pockets instead of launching projects that, in his view, did not address the cost of living or unemployment.
His remarks appeared aimed at countering President Ruto’s recent efforts to make political inroads in Nyanza through development tours, state-backed projects and engagement with local leaders.
Kalonzo urged residents not to be swayed by what he described as political showmanship, saying the region should judge leaders by their consistency, loyalty and commitment to democratic ideals.
The church event also gave Wiper Patriotic Front leaders an opportunity to market Kalonzo as a national opposition figure capable of carrying forward the reform agenda associated with Raila.
Kalonzo is expected to intensify his outreach in Raila’s traditional strongholds as the 2027 race takes shape, with Nyanza likely to play a key role in determining the direction of opposition politics.
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