Former Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu has delivered a scathing diagnosis of Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s current political turbulence, claiming the veteran diplomat has become the unwitting author of his own misfortunes. In a detailed critique released on Sunday, Wambugu argued that Kalonzo’s decision to tether his 2027 ambitions to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has transformed him from a respected statesman into a proxy target for the government’s artillery.

The analysis comes as the opposition coalition, currently rebranding under the banner of the "United Opposition," faces internal jitters over its strategy to deny President William Ruto a second term. According to Wambugu, Kalonzo’s woes are not self-inflicted errors of judgment, but the price of admission for his new political friendship.

The 'Toxic' Friendship

Writing on his official social media channels, Wambugu noted that for decades, Kalonzo occupied a unique, almost Teflon-coated space in Kenyan politics. He was rarely the subject of coordinated national attacks, often viewed as a safe, if overly cautious, pair of hands. That immunity, Wambugu suggests, has evaporated.

“Now he is attracting focused attacks not due to his own mistakes, but because of just one new friend he has gotten in the last year,” Wambugu stated, referring to the embattled former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The strategist argues that by aligning with Gachagua, Kalonzo has inherited the former DP’s baggage. Wambugu posits that the political hostility currently directed at Kalonzo from the Mount Kenya region is actually intended for Gachagua, with the Wiper leader merely caught in the crossfire of a bitter divorce between the President and his former deputy.

The 'Wantam' Narrative Failure

Wambugu also took aim at the opposition’s rallying cry—the “Wantam” (One Term) slogan—which seeks to make President Ruto a one-term president. He observed that the narrative is losing traction among ordinary Kenyans (Wanjiku) because it is no longer perceived as a national duty, but as a personal vendetta driven by Gachagua’s grievances.

• Personal vs. National: Wambugu claims voters see the anti-Ruto push as Gachagua’s revenge mission, not a plan to lower the cost of living.
• The Apathy Factor: “So others are like 'wacha afanye' (let him do it). After all, he is the one who brought him,” Wambugu wrote, suggesting voters are indifferent to Gachagua’s struggles against a government he helped install.

The Raila Comparison

In a move likely to sting the Wiper command center, Wambugu drew a sharp contrast between Kalonzo’s track record and that of ODM leader Raila Odinga. He pointed out that while Raila’s political "handshakes" with Presidents Kibaki, Kenyatta, and Ruto often translated into tangible development projects for the Nyanza region, Kalonzo’s negotiation history is less fruitful for his Ukambani base.

“I had never realized that Kalonzo also negotiated at least one major handshake in his life,” Wambugu remarked sarcastically, referring to Kalonzo’s stint as Vice President under Mwai Kibaki. He challenged the Wiper leader to point to specific economic dividends that the arrangement yielded for his constituents, contrasting it with the infrastructure boom often associated with Raila’s strategic truces.

As the 2027 General Election draws closer, Wambugu’s comments highlight the fragility of the new opposition alliance. With Gachagua’s "acid tongue"—as described by critics—and Kalonzo’s diplomatic approach, analysts are watching to see if this marriage of convenience can survive the weight of its own contradictions.