Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dismissed suggestions by Kenya Kwanza legislators to create the position of Prime Minister for opposition leader Raila Odinga, terming it unconstitutional and politically damaging.
Speaking on KTN News on Wednesday night, Kalonzo questioned how Raila would justify accepting such a position, given his belief that he won the 2022 presidential election. He argued that those pushing the idea do not understand Raila’s principles and that such a move would significantly undermine his political standing.
“Are they saying Raila Odinga should become Prime Minister? Then they don’t know him. According to him, and according to us in the ticket with Martha Karua, they won the elections. Now you want him to become Prime Minister? What will he be saying to the country?” Kalonzo posed.
The Wiper leader emphasized that he hopes Raila does not join the Kenya Kwanza government, warning that doing so would strip him of his current role as a principal in the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco). According to Kalonzo, the committee had established Raila as the key opposition figure in consultations with President William Ruto. If Raila were to align with Kenya Kwanza, Kalonzo asserted that he would assume the principal opposition role himself.
“The only thing I hope is Raila does not join Ruto. If he does, he will lose the position of the principal. We had built within Nadco the principal of consultation between Raila and Ruto. This is one reason Raila cannot join Ruto,” he said. “If he joins him, then I become the other principal. I am willing to take up the role to save the country.”
Kalonzo’s remarks come in response to a recent push by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who proposed amending the Constitution to establish the Prime Minister’s office and have Raila serve in that capacity. Cherargei argued that Raila’s vast experience and leadership skills should not be wasted and that the country owes him recognition for his role in championing democracy and the rule of law.
“We must now fully implement the Nadco Report by amending the Constitution 2010 to create the office of the Prime Minister and allow Baba Raila Odinga to serve Kenyans in that capacity,” Cherargei said.
The Nadco committee, co-chaired by Kalonzo and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, had proposed several governance reforms. Among these was the establishment of the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, with at least two deputies, but the idea of a Prime Minister was not explicitly included.
As the debate continues, the question remains whether such a constitutional amendment will gain traction or if Raila will resist any move that could compromise his long-standing political influence.
