Kalonzo Drops Presidential Bid, Accepts Chief Minister Position

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka will no longer contest for the country’s top job.

Speaking on Thursday from the SKM Command Centre, the former vice president said he will instead campaign for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate, Martha Karua.

Kalonzo who is nicknamed the watermelon, will also take up Raila’s offer to serve as his Chief Cabinet minister should they form the next government.

“I have come to the realisation that the future of our nation is on our shoulders. I have deferred my dreams to run in the August elections,” he said.

Read: Kalonzo Set to Rejoin Azimio Today Ahead of Meeting with IEBC

“In my concentration, I have listened to everyone including the dumb and ignorant.”

At the same time, Kalonzo expressed his gratitude to a group of Kenyans who supported him when he announced his presidential bid.

“I stand here as a proud Kenyan. I acknowledge the goodwill I have received from those Kenyans who appended their signatures to allow me to run for the presidency,” he said.

Kalonzo said he has decided to accept the chief cabinet secretary’s offer made to him by the ODM leader after extensive consultations.

Read Also: Kalonzo Headed Back to Azimio After Declining to Resubmit Papers to IEBC

“With humility, I hereby accept the nomination for the position of the chief minister when Azimio forms government. I would wish to congratulate Karua on her nomination as Azimio DP nominee,” he said.

Last month, Kalonzo announced his departure from Azimio and revealed his intention to run for presidency.

This came when Raila chose Karua, the leader of the Narc Kenya, as his running mate over the Wiper boss.

Kalonzo said on Wednesday that he was shortchanged in the coalition deal that his Wiper party signed with other major parties to form the Azimio coalition.

Read Also: Kalonzo Locked Out of Presidential Contest

“We had earlier gotten into a coalition that brought in several political parties that included President Uhuru’s Jubilee, Raila’s ODM, and Wiper. I was shortchanged.”

A week ago, Wiper delegates encouraged Kalonzo to return to Azimio and renegotiate what is at stake for them as a region on behalf of the community.

“I was given authority by Wiper delegates to contest for the Presidency. It isn’t only Wiper and Kamba community, but we need all communities for Kenya to move on as a nation,” Kalonzo said.