Raila betrayed me; he can't convince me to work with Ruto - Kalonzo

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of betrayal, saying he cannot work with President William Ruto or rejoin Raila politically.

Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on June 30, 2025, Kalonzo said he had stood by Raila in three successive general elections, only to be sidelined when the ODM leader opted to cooperate with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“Raila should ask himself if he betrayed the Azimio coalition or not,” Kalonzo said, adding that Raila’s move fractured the opposition and left many of its leaders politically exposed.

Kalonzo said Raila’s decision to engage with Ruto was made without consultation and undermined the coalition’s collective efforts.

“Despite the sacrifices and loyalty I have shown, Raila went ahead to make his own decision,” he said.

He also dismissed speculation that he could be warming up to President Ruto’s government. “If today I am seen with Ruto or Raila, I will also be labelled a betrayer,” he said, noting how political perceptions are often misused.

Kalonzo recalled a visit to Homa Bay during the height of the anti-government “Zakayo Shuka” protests.

He posed a question to residents: "What should be done if Ruto, nicknamed Zakayo, failed to step down from power and was joined by Raila?"

“The people said, ‘Cut the tree with both Ruto and Raila,’” Kalonzo said, adding that the response captured public frustration.

He reiterated his decision to stay out of government and ruled out joining Raila in any future arrangement under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“If Raila wants to pull out of the broad-based government, that’s okay, but not for me to join him in government. If he joins the opposition, he must take the queue,” he said.

Kalonzo also condemned police brutality during recent protests and said he was working with other opposition leaders to document and challenge the use of force on citizens. Among those he named were Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua, Jeremiah Kioni, Rigathi Gachagua, and JB Muturi.