• Ultimately, Dr. Ndonye’s analysis painted Kalonzo as a figure caught between ambition and pragmatism a politician who has never fully left government yet rarely managed to claim the top prize. Whether 2027 is truly his moment or just another deal may depend not only on Kalonzo’s strategy but also on whether Kenyan voters are ready to reward a “clean” politician with State House.

In the latest episode of The Political Oracle on the TalkChat Podcast, the focus turned to one of Kenya’s most enduring political figures: Kalonzo Musyoka. Often described as a coalition-builder and kingmaker, Kalonzo has been a fixture of Kenya’s political landscape for decades, serving as Vice President, Cabinet Minister, and a key player in multiple alliances. 

But as the country moves toward the 2027 elections, the question looms: Is this finally Kalonzo’s moment to make a serious bid for the presidency, or will he once again play the role of a power broker?

According to political analyst Dr. Michael Ndonye, "Kalonzo is a gentleman who has stood the test of time and remained largely scandal-free," he said. Dr Ndonye specified that this is particularly in a political environment where controversy often defines popularity.

Ironically, this “clean image” has made it difficult for him to galvanize the kind of mass support required to win Kenya’s top job. Politics, Dr. Ndonye noted, “is dirty” and often hits clean people like Kalonzo Musyoka.

The conversation traced Kalonzo’s history of coalition-building back to the 2005 constitutional referendum and the 2007 elections. As Dr. Ndonye recalled, Kalonzo was once ranked as the most preferred presidential candidate ahead of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga.

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Yet, his expectation of being picked as the ODM presidential flag bearer was dashed when Raila and his allies registered a parallel ODM without him. 

This moment when Kalonzo broke ranks and ran separately cemented his reputation as a “watermelon” politician, one who could straddle both government and opposition without fully belonging to either.

This duality, Dr. Ndonye argued, has defined Kalonzo’s career ever since. “His political soul is in government,” he said, “but his body is in opposition.” Kalonzo’s Kamba base has historically voted opposition, even as he personally leaned toward the system. This has allowed him to maintain his kingship in Ukambani while remaining a fixture in national politics.

Today, Kalonzo’s alignment with Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua’s camp has raised new questions. Is this a bold strategy to finally position himself as a presidential candidate in 2027, or is he once again setting himself up as a kingmaker?

Dr. Ndonye noted that Gachagua is unlikely to endorse Kalonzo for the presidency and suggested the coalition currently taking shape is more like “water and oil” than a unified front. “They are together now, but they cannot mix, it’s actually easier for Gachagua to support Ruto than endorse Kalonzo to be president,” Dr. Ndonye said.

Ultimately, Dr. Ndonye’s analysis painted Kalonzo as a figure caught between ambition and pragmatism; a politician who has never fully left government yet rarely managed to claim the top prize.

Whether 2027 is truly his moment or just another deal may depend not only on Kalonzo’s strategy but also on whether Kenyan voters are ready to reward a “clean” politician with State House.

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