How Kalonzo Is Ruining His Chances Of Becoming President

Kalonzo Musyoka’s public relations machinery works overtime, ensuring no party purge, weekend prayer meeting or proclamation goes unnoticed by the media and ultimately the public. The former vice-president has positioned himself as a perpetual critic of President William Ruto’s administration, regularly cataloguing its shortcomings – from human rights concerns to economic struggles, delivering regular sermons on abductions of government critics, the high cost of living, and youth unemployment.

But as Kalonzo strives to project to Kenyans that he has presidential gravitas, there’s a troubling contradiction. While he’s surrounded by some respectable figures – earnest politicians waiting out their season in the wilderness – his inner circle raises serious questions about his judgment and intentions. His closest associates include individuals whose presence would make any serious presidential aspirant recoil.

Most disturbing is Kalonzo’s apparent comfort with keeping company that should set off alarm bells. Among his associates is a former governor battling corruption charges in court over questionable deals made during his tenure. He has also extended olive branches to a disgraced politician whose impeachment and removal from office is still fresh in public memory. Photographs of Kalonzo with some of these disreputable characters regularly adorn the pages of daily newspapers.

Kalonzo’s actions suggest that he values political expediency over principle. Some of these men that he’s courting represent voting blocs that he probably sees as crucial for him if he chooses to run for President in 2027. But this is tainting his presidential ambitions. A leader’s character is often reflected in the company they keep, and these associations paint a disturbing picture of someone willing to compromise ethical standards for political advantage. It seems Kalonzo has chosen convenience over conscience, raising serious questions about how he would govern if he were elected.

While Kalonzo’s credentials as a former vice-president and foreign minister are noteworthy, these alone cannot justify his bid for the highest office in the land. Kenya needs more than a seasoned politician – it needs a leader with a clear vision and concrete plans for national progress. But, so far, Kalonzo’s unofficial campaign for President seems built primarily on critiquing the current administration, a role better suited to civil society activists and Gen Z than presidential hopefuls.

If Kalonzo truly aspires to lead Kenya, he must demonstrate more than his ability to identify problems. He needs to articulate a detailed programme for national development, one that offers practical solutions to the very issues he so readily cites. Equally important, he must show better judgment in choosing his political associations. The company he keeps speaks volumes about the kind of presidency he would run.

Until he can align his actions with the higher standards of integrity, wisdom and solutions, his presidential aspirations will remain just a mirage.