Wiper Democratic Movement Party will form an alliance with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in 2027, this is according to Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo.
Maanzo says that Wiper and other constituent Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Coalition parties will part ways with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which he says has been incorporated in President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Government.
“Wiper will form an alliance with Rigathi Gachagua. We will form a big alliance which will form 50+1 [in] round one,” the Senator, a close confidant of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, told Citizen TV on Thursday, January 9.
The relationship between Azimio affiliate parties took a turn for the worse when Raila Odinga-led ODM closed ranks with President Ruto’s administration at the height of Gen Z anti-government protests in June 2024.
As a result, four of ODM members i.e. Wycliffe Oparanya, Hassan Joho, John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi were appointed in President Ruto’s Cabinet.
‘ODM is in gov’t’
Although ODM has constantly maintained that it is still an opposition party, other Azimio members insist that the orange party is now in government.
“ODM and Wiper today are in a coalition, Azimio has not been killed. ODM decided to save the country when Ruto was overrun through Parliament and was about to be overrun in State House. That is what ODM was making sure does not happen and the country can scrape through to 2027 when we can have another election,” Maanzo said. “After all we are all looking for a united nation [and] we have already charted our path of looking for votes. If ODM joins us on the way we will work with them.”
Maanzo’s statement, however, does not come as a surprise. Ever since his impeachment from office, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo created a political friendship.
In fact, in December 18, 2024 while at a burial in Mbooni, Makueni County, Gachagua confirmed he will join forces with Kalonzo to rival President Ruto in the 2027 Presidential Election.
“Wiper people led by Kalonzo have shown grace and we have decided you are our friends for life. And we don’t just say that. When we say it, we mean it,” Gachagua said, confirming that he was in talks with Kalonzo.
Two days later at a burial ceremony in Embu County, Kalonzo confirmed this when he invited Gachagua to the opposition ranks.
