NYANZA, Kenya — Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has warned President William Ruto against expecting political support from the Nyanza region in the 2027 General Election, insisting that residents are increasingly backing calls for a one-term presidency.
Kalonzo made the remarks on Friday, November 6, 2026, during a press briefing in Homa Bay, where opposition leaders were conducting the second day of their political tour of the region.
He dismissed suggestions that Nyanza was shifting towards supporting Ruto’s re-election bid, arguing that the turnout witnessed during the opposition’s engagements demonstrated widespread dissatisfaction with the government.
“An impression was given that Nyanza is for two terms. And that has been debunked. This was debunked yesterday by the huge turnout,” Kalonzo said.
The Wiper leader maintained that the one-term campaign was about more than removing the President from office, arguing that it reflected public frustration over governance, accountability and respect for constitutional rights.
“People are not just chanting one term. They are saying one term because they want their country back,” he stated.
He said Kenyans wanted a country where citizens were protected from arbitrary abductions and where the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were respected.
“They want a country that is under the rule of law, under the Constitution 2010, the Bill of Rights. They want to see that and feel it in their own daily lives,” he said.
Kalonzo also accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of corruption and misappropriation of public resources, claiming that the alleged theft of public funds was undermining the country’s future.
“We are fed up with the government that is stealing from us; because you steal from us, now you’re stealing our future,” he added.
Kalonzo demands inquiry into Homa Bay killings
The opposition leader also called for a special inquiry into the violence that disrupted a Linda Mwananchi movement rally in Homa Bay on August 16, 2026, claiming that the number of people killed had risen to 61.
Kalonzo said the opposition had received a detailed report from the alliance’s Secretary General, which he argued contradicted earlier accounts of the casualties.
“It was reported that only six people died. We have since established… the number has gone up to 61,” he said.
Describing the incident as a massacre, Kalonzo, speaking on behalf of the United Alternative Government, demanded an independent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and identify those responsible.
“This was a massacre. It was a massacre. And as the United Alternative Government, we are calling for a special inquiry to find out exactly what happened. Who was responsible for this killing?” he said.
He warned against allowing Homa Bay to become synonymous with political violence, insisting that residents deserved protection regardless of their political affiliations.
However, the figure of 61 deaths remains an allegation by the opposition and has not been independently established. Reports citing police accounts have given a substantially lower death toll, with the Daily Nation reporting that official figures put the number of fatalities at up to four.
The conflicting accounts underline the need for an independent investigation to establish the number of victims, the circumstances of the deaths and whether anyone should be held accountable.
Kalonzo invokes Raila’s legacy
Kalonzo also used the Homa Bay engagement to pay tribute to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, recalling their longstanding political partnership and the role they played in Kenya’s democratic struggles.
He said he had worked closely with Raila for 15 years, describing the former Prime Minister as a champion of democracy whose contribution to the country’s political development should not be forgotten.
Also Read: Kalonzo rejects Ruto government overtures, declares he will not join ‘failed regime’
His appeal to Nyanza comes as opposition leaders seek to consolidate political support in a region long associated with Raila and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The tour is also part of Kalonzo’s broader efforts to position himself within the opposition’s contest against Ruto ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The political contest in Nyanza has become increasingly significant following Raila’s death, with rival political formations seeking to establish their influence among voters who traditionally supported the former Prime Minister.
Kalonzo’s remarks therefore place the region at the centre of the emerging 2027 political contest, even as the opposition continues to push its one-term campaign and demand accountability over alleged political violence.
