Silverio Omari
United Democratic Movement (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala has urged Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to reconsider his firm stance and support national unity efforts.
Malala highlighted President William Ruto’s willingness to unite the country and bring together opposition leaders following recent protests. He urged Kalonzo to be patriotic and accept the President’s offer to contribute to peace efforts.
“It would be imprudent for a national leader like Kalonzo to align himself with those who oppose this opportunity,” Malala stated.
Kalonzo responded on Friday, before Ruto announced his new cabinet, by rejecting the proposed broad-based government. He argued that joining such a government would betray Gen Z and millennials, who have sacrificed significantly. Kalonzo emphasized that Azimio will not support the Kenya Kwanza-led government of national unity, declaring, “Our commitment is to stand with the Kenyan people over the Kenya Kwanza regime.”
Kalonzo criticized the proposed government as a superficial change, arguing that as long as the Kenya Kwanza administration remains in power, no meaningful change will occur.
At the Kenya School of Government, where he attended the Pan African Youth Convention with other Azimio leaders, Kalonzo explained that the decision to reject the unity government was made by several parties, including the Wiper Democratic Movement, Jubilee Party, DAP-Kenya Party, Party of National Unity (PNU), and Narc-Kenya, as well as ODM during their respective National Executive Council meetings.
His statements come amid reports of discord within the opposition coalition, with suggestions that ODM leader Raila Odinga might be open to joining the government of national unity.
