Wiper leader says his foot soldiers have failed to push back against Ruto’s inroads.

As he steps up efforts to bag the opposition presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 General Election, Wiper Patriotic (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka has endured a fresh headache; a threat on his grip of his Ukambani traditional political bedrock.

The WPF leader has accused his foot soldiers of failing to push back against President William Ruto’s sustained efforts to make political inroads in Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties.

“We have a team of five people who move around as they campaign across this region,” Mr Musyoka said, referring to a team of President Ruto’s allies in Machakos County led by Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka.

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka attends his party’s National Delegates Convention at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on October 10, 2025.

“Instead of countering them because you have the people behind you, everyone is campaigning alone. Wake up and move as a team so that you set me free to move to the rest of the country,” he said.

Mr Musyoka’s frustration cast a long shadow during a thanksgiving and homecoming ceremony for Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu at Mua Hills on Saturday.

The ceremony graced by a handful of his allies turned out to be an opportunity for a dressing down.

Mr Musyoka accused his foot soldiers of threatening his standing in the united opposition by failing to show up in large numbers during the recent launch of Linda Mwananchi Movement secretariat in Nairobi.

It is not the first time Mr Musyoka had expressed his frustration. Mr Musyoka's disappointment is fueled by growing infighting among his allies.

Ms Kavindu, for instance, does not see eye-to-eye with Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti. Their relationship has grown frosty in recent years after Ms Ndeti accused Ms Kavindu of working closely with her political rivals.

It got worse after Machakos Lands Executive Nathaniel Nganga, who is a close ally of Ms Ndeti, joined the race for the WPF ticket to challenge Ms Kavindu. The ticket has also attracted former Machakos Health Executive Daniel Yumbya and prominent lawyer Musyoka Kala. 

The entry of former Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua in the Machakos Senator race has also unsettled Mr Musyoka.

According to political analysts, the infighting has tested WPF’s ability to withstand internal competition and made Ukambani a political battleground ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Mr Kalonzo's remarks came barely a week after President Ruto pitched camp in Ukambani region.