Machakos governor Wavinya Ndeti has urged the Luo Nyanza electorate to consider backing Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in the 2027 presidential vote.
Speaking at a funeral in Siaya on Saturday, February 8, the county chief noted that Kalonzo had led the Kamba community to vote for Raila in the past three elections.
According to her, the time had come for Kalonzo's gesture to be reciprocated in kind.
"As the Kamba community, we have supported Raila Odinga for 15 years, and we even secured more votes for him (Raila) in Ukambani compared with some constituencies in Nyanza. Now that Kalonzo Musyoka is vying for the presidency, it's only fair that you support him," the governor said.
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Kalonzo is known to have shelved his ambition in the past three electoral cycles to support Raila who flunked all the elections.
In 2013, Kalonzo forewent his presidential bid to rally behind Raila and vie for the presidency as the latter's running mate.
They sought the presidency under the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).
Raila was routed by former president Uhuru Kenyatta whose joint ticket with William Ruto won the 2013 vote.
In 2017, Kalonzo still suppressed his bid; he vied as Raila's running mate and their bid, under the National Super Alliance (NASA) ticket, was defeated by the Uhuru-Ruto Jubilee ticket.
In 2022, Kalonzo was not on the presidential ballot as Raila's running mate despite offering to support the latter's bid for the third time.
He registered his Wiper party as a constituent party of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party with whose ticket Raila sought the presidency for the fifth time.
Had Raila won, Kalonzo would have been accorded a post akin to the Prime Minister.
With all his documented sacrifices, Kalonzo has vowed to have his name on the ballot in the 2027 elections.
To bolster his chances, he is eyeing a partnership with a host of political heavyweights, among them former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and DAP Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa.
Kalonzo's first stab at the presidency was in the crisis-stricken election in 2007 when he vied against then-president Mwai Kibaki and Raila.
He emerged the third after Raila and Kibaki; he was later incorporated into the grand coalition government as the vice president.
