Kalonzo Asked Ruto to Make Him Senate Speaker - UDA MP

Belgut MP Nelson Koech has claimed that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka reached out to President William Ruto seeking to be Speaker of the Senate.

Speaking on Tuesday, September 15, Koech alleged that Kalonzo approached Ruto shortly after the closely contested 2022 presidential election.

"Kalonzo once reached out to the president requesting to be the Speaker of the Senate. This was immediately after the last general election (2022)," he claimed.

Koech made the remarks while discussing the country's political landscape and the prospects of the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He expressed confidence that Ruto would remain difficult to defeat in the next presidential contest, arguing that divisions within the opposition would work in the President's favour.

Koech further claimed that opposition leaders were unlikely to unite around a single political arrangement because of competing interests and negotiations over government positions.

"I see no one beating William Ruto. Wait and see the split in the opposition. All these guys will never agree because all of them are currently negotiating for positions in government," he added.

This comes days after Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has announced that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna will soon formally declare his 2027 presidential bid. 

Speaking during an interview on Monday, September 14, Osotsi said an event would be organized where Sifuna would officially announce his intention to vie for the country’s top seat. 

"Sifuna has not formally declared his bid, but I know very soon we will have an event where he will formally declare his bid for president," he said. 

Osotsi also revealed that the Linda Mwananchi movement will present Sifuna as its preferred presidential candidate during negotiations with the wider opposition.

"As Linda Mwananchi, we are going to present Edwin Sifuna as our presidential candidate. I know my friend Orengo has also made a declaration which we respect, and we have said that, at the right time, we are going to process those requests. As at now our presidential candidate is Edwin Sifuna," he added. 

Further, Osotsi said Sifuna should be on the opposition presidential ticket if the opposition wants to win the 2027 General Election.

He argued that Sifuna’s approval ratings have risen significantly and that the Nairobi Senator is now closing the gap on President William Ruto.

"I think for the opposition to have a quick win in the 2027 election, Edwin Sifuna has to be on the ticket. When you look at the ratings, he has risen from zero and is closing the gap on William Ruto," he further said.