Wiper leader kalonzo Musyoka has responded to Raila Odinga's team over accusations of being behind the rumours milled around the former prime minister's health.
On Sunday, October 5, Raila's secretariat released a statement clarifying the state of its leader's health against reports that he was in a critical condition and fighting for his life in a Nairobi hospital.
Whilst the statement was to shed light on the whereabouts of Raila, it went hard-hitting on the figures in the United Opposition.
The secretariat, through Raila's spokesperson Dennis Onyango, explicitly accused Kalonzo, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and DAP Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, among others, of bankrolling misinformation against Raila for political expedience.
"The misinformation is broadcast by the same team that went on a frenzy against Hon. Raila's bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission earlier this year. Gachagua, Kalonzo and co have co-opted sections of the traditional media that are happily picking feeds from bloggers, including AI- generated images, and broadcasting them as some kind of investigative Breaking News. The hope of this team then and now is to bully Hon. Raila to provide a back for them to ride on in their struggle against President William Ruto," the statement from Raila's secretariat read partly.
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The secretariat clarified that Raila had travelled out of the country in routine business far from medical reasons, adding that "he is not indisposed, as prayed for by his frustrated opponents."
But Kalonzo would not let the accusations on his name lie.
Through his Wiper party, Kalonzo dismissed Raila's secretariat statement as outburts emanating from fears and insecurities over the former prime minister's political future.
The Wiper leader said he had never harboured any kind of hate against Raila, and that wishing him ill health would be the last thing he would do.
"Let it be stated clearly. H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka harbors no ill will whatsoever toward Mr. Odinga. The two leaders share a long, public history of cooperation and mutual respect. Any suggestion that H.E Kalonzo Musyoka wishes harm upon Raila is malicious, reckless, and utterly false," the party said.
Kalonzo concluded that the secretariat's statement was meant to cover for the apparent confusion in the ODM party, which is in government partnering with the ruling UDA party.
His party added that it was not responsible for Raila's political miscalculations and failures, including his failed bid in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship race earlier this year.
Wiper told Raila that his decision to work with President William Ruto's regime is to blame for his supposedly waning influence, seeking to distance Kalonzo from all that.
"No one and absolutely no one will drag H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka into their self-inflicted political decay Kalonzo Musyoka romains committed to justice, truth, and a Kenya that values life and liberty over expediency, money and power," Kalonzo's party said.
Until last year, Raila and Kalonzo have been in the same political formations since 2013.
The Wiper leader shelved his presidential bids throughout to support Raila.
Their latest undertaking was in the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party, with whose ticket Raila unsuccessfully sought office in 2022.
They remained in opposition, undertaking checks on the regime in power, until Raila's partnership with Ruto happened.
The ODM leader and Ruto came up with the broad-based government, with Kalonzo refusing to join the bandwagon.
Kalonzo identifies with other opposition figures, among them Gachagua, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.
He is now keen on unseating Ruto in the 2027 presidential vote.
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