Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has issued a chilling verdict on the state of the nation, declaring that Kenya is drifting into a “revolutionary mode” that could make the 2027 General Election unlike any democratic contest the country has seen before.

Speaking to a gathering of judges, magistrates, and advocates in Machakos County on Saturday night, the former Vice President painted a picture of a democracy under siege. He cited rising police impunity, the weaponization of state machinery in recent by-elections, and a deliberate stalling of electoral reforms as clear indicators that the window for a “normal” election is rapidly closing.

The “Goonism” Factor

Kalonzo did not mince words regarding the conduct of security forces. Referencing the recent by-elections in Mbeere North and Malava, he alleged a disturbing trend where police officers were not just passive observers but active participants in aiding “goons” to subvert the will of the people.

“This country is in a revolutionary mode. What you are going to see next time isn’t a normal election,” Kalonzo warned the legal practitioners at the Lower Eastern Advocates Forum. “This act of goonism... unless this culture changes, I don’t know how you will manage.”

For the average Kenyan, this rhetoric signals potential instability. When political competition moves from the ballot box to physical confrontation, it is often the wananchi and their businesses that suffer the collateral damage. Kalonzo’s warning suggests that without immediate course correction, the stability required for economic recovery could be the first casualty of the 2027 cycle.

A Call to the Bar

Framing the judiciary and legal fraternity as the last bastion of hope, Kalonzo challenged lawyers to move beyond their chambers and actively defend the Constitution. He argued that the legal profession must now shoulder the burden of checking executive excess, much like they did during the clamor for multipartyism in the 1990s.

• Defend the Vote: He urged advocates to litigate against electoral malpractice aggressively, citing the recent High Court ruling on political defections as a “defining moment” for democracy.
• Protect Public Assets: Kalonzo also flagged the government’s push to privatize key state assets, including the proposed sale of shares in Safaricom—Kenya’s most profitable company—as a move that requires rigorous legal scrutiny to protect public interest.
• Judicial Backlog: He decried the overwhelming backlog of court cases, linking the delay in justice to a broader governance failure that erodes public trust.

The United Opposition

Kalonzo’s combative tone comes as he solidifies his position as the face of the “United Opposition.” With the political landscape shifting, he has increasingly aligned himself with disaffected leaders, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, to form a broad front against the current administration.

Rejecting the label of “politician”—which he says has become synonymous with deception—Kalonzo urged Kenyans to refer to opposition figures as “Viongozi” (Leaders). “The name politician has lost its meaning,” he told a congregation in Kasarani earlier in the week. “We are leaders who are standing for the truth.”

This rebranding is more than semantics; it is an attempt to distance his camp from the transactional politics that have disillusioned millions of young voters, particularly the Gen Z demographic that drove the protests earlier in the decade.

The Ghost of 2022

Underpinning Kalonzo’s warning is the unresolved trauma of the 2022 election and the subsequent collapse of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks. He lamented that despite the NADCO report recommending the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the process remains mired in political gamesmanship.

“We are watching closely. We are not sleeping on this issue,” he said, referring to the delayed selection of IEBC commissioners. “If it is dictated by one side alone, both Kenyans and the world will see that this is [the President’s] Commission, and we cannot allow that.”

As the night ended in Machakos, Kalonzo left the legal minds with a heavy responsibility. “Your work is shaping not just our legal landscape but the ethical direction of our nation,” he concluded. “The future of integrity and justice in Kenya rests in your capable hands.”