Members of the Wiper Patriotic Front from the Coast region of Tanzania have expressed their unwavering support for their party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, in his quest for the presidency. They have threatened to rally behind him in a solo presidential bid in the August 2027 General Election if he fails to secure the united opposition's presidential ticket. This stance was taken during a recent gathering of grassroots leaders.
The Wiper leaders dismissed speculation linking Kalonzo Musyoka to a possible political partnership with President William Ruto. They insisted that Musyoka would not agree to deputise the Head of State in the forthcoming elections. Omar Twaha, a member of the Wiper National Executive Committee, claimed that their party leader was being unfairly treated within the opposition despite his longstanding role in efforts to unite political forces against President Ruto.
The Wiper leaders emphasized that their priority remains the removal of President Ruto from power and that they are not intending to pursue a political path that would fracture the opposition. Twaha stated that fronting Kalonzo Musyoka as the party's candidate would disintegrate the opposition, which is not their intention. The leaders argued that Musyoka's presidential ambitions deserve equal consideration in the ongoing negotiations over the coalition's leadership.
Wiper Coast chairperson John Chamia dismissed claims that Kalonzo Musyoka could become Ruto's running mate, maintaining that the two leaders had no political prospects of working together. Chamia stated that whoever suggested such a possibility was dreaming and that they could never engage with Ruto because of their political differences.
The leaders warned that overlooking Musyoka in the selection of the opposition's presidential flag bearer could force them to chart an independent political path, with Musyoka contesting for the presidency outside a coalition arrangement. They argued that Musyoka had supported the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in previous presidential contests and that the time had come for other opposition leaders to reciprocate his political support.
The Coast leaders' position comes amid growing jostling within the opposition over who should fly its presidential flag in the 2027 elections. Competing interests have emerged around Musyoka, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i. The contest has been further complicated by renewed calls from Democracy for the Citizens Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala urging Musyoka to shelve his presidential ambitions and support Sifuna.
Despite Malala's urging, the Wiper grassroots leaders defended Musyoka's presidential ambitions, describing him as a seasoned politician with the experience and credentials to lead the country. They also cautioned against attempts to create divisions within the opposition, alleging that government operatives were working to exploit internal differences and weaken the coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Key points
- The Wiper leaders are committed to supporting Kalonzo Musyoka's presidential bid and may chart an independent path if he is not considered for the united opposition's ticket.
- The leaders dismissed speculation of a possible partnership between Musyoka and President William Ruto.
- The Wiper party prioritizes the removal of President Ruto from power and seeks to maintain unity within the opposition.
