The Ukombozi Alliance, formerly Azimio and led by Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, on Saturday stormed Busia County, seeking to inherit what was once the late Raila Odinga’s stronghold as the 2027 presidential race gathers steam.
From evoking the name of Mr Odinga, pledging more than 15 years of loyalty to the former Premier and vowing to stand by his ideals, Mr Musyoka and his counterparts presented themselves as the best bet to continue with his vision.
Mr Musyoka, Democratic Action Party’s Eugene Wamalwa, Democratic Party’s Justin Muturi and other elected leaders from the opposition were in Bumala and Nambale, where they took their anti-government campaigns, claiming the country could not survive another five years of President William Ruto’s rule.
Visiting a county that was the bedrock of Mr Odinga, Mr Musyoka presented himself to the electorate as the former Prime Minister’s heir apparent, having stuck with him over the years he contested for the country’s top seat.
“The over 15 years I was behind Raila cannot be forgotten. Our victory was stolen and we faced challenges in the court but I stood by him. Raila used to get many votes from this region, I have come to ask you to join us in sending Ruto home,” said Mr Musyoka.
During the two stop-over rallies, Mr Musyoka’s team played an audio of the former ODM leader heaping praises on the Wiper leader, describing him as loyal, faithful and loving, and one who is better than President Ruto ten times.
The leaders also sold the Wiper Patriotic Front leader as the one who can form a formidable team with their son, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, a tag team they say will deny Ruto a second term in office.
“We shall work together with Sifuna to ensure we kick Ruto out of power and rescue our country. Do not allow either of us to take steps back,” said Mr Musyoka, attracting cheers from those supporting the Nairobi Senator.
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Kalonzo Musyoka speaks during the opposition rally at Bumala, Busia County, on September 26, 2026.
He claimed there are many attempts by President Ruto to divide the opposition, urging his counterparts not to lose sight of the ball.
He claimed that since Kenya Kwanza took over power, the cost of living has remained high, placing a heavy burden on Kenyans.
The Wiper leader claimed Dr Ruto was only focused on programmes that he is using to siphon funds for his cronies.
He added that the courts, by nullifying the proposed partial sale of the government’s 15 per cent shareholding in Safaricom PLC to Vodacom, were brilliant and saved the country millions of shillings.
He said that while the courts have given the thumbs-up for affordable housing, their first move after the elections will be to remove the housing levy to ease the burden on Kenyans’ payslips.
“Ruto has benefitted from the 2010 Constitution that he never supported and still mutilates through abduction and killing of the youth who criticize him,” said Mr Musyoka.
Mr Wamalwa said it is the opposition which can continue with the legacy Mr Odinga left and the ideology he believed in.
“My people from Busia, you supported Raila, giving him one of the highest numbers of votes in the country, we are here to assure you that we lost Baba, but we haven’t lost his vision and what he stood for,” said Mr Wamalwa.
He said the united opposition will work with those who used to be close allies of Mr Odinga who are now in Linda Mwananchi to remove Ruto from power.
“We will walk with Orengo, Sifuna, Osotsi, Caleb Amisi, and clinch victory in round one. The government is waiting for us to be divided, we will not. Raila wanted equal rights for all Kenyans, this is the team that will restore rule of law in Kenya,” said Mr Wamalwa.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Muskoka received at Kisumu International Airport for the party’s “Ukombuzi Meet and Greet” tour in Busia County on September 26 and Siaya County on September 27, 2026.
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The leaders also alleged a plot by the government to register foreigners from neighbouring countries as voters to gain undue advantage during the coming elections in 2027.
They demanded the unconditional release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, whom they said was kidnapped here in Kenya and is still in detention.
“Ruto has seen that his arithmetic is not working, now he has sent his Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to register voters from the neighbouring countries. By doing this, Murkomen is violating the sovereignty of Kenya,” said Mr Wamalwa.
Mr Muturi said there were many reasons to send Ruto home, including being a president who gives an order to shoot protesters in the leg.
“Their plan to use dead people to vote will not work. I am asking IEBC to summon Murkomen and ask him what he was doing in Uganda, saying he will register voters from the neighbouring country,” said Mr Muturi.
He also called for the unity of the opposition, saying that was the surest way of denying Ruto victory.
“Buffalos are very strong animals; they move together not because they love each other but because when they move individually they expose themselves to danger. He is trying to send people to divide us, but we won’t, we believe that Ruto will go home in 2027,” said Mr Muturi.
The team heads to Bondo on Sunday September 27, where they will attend a church service and hold rallies within the town.
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