Wiper Party leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a worrying return of political intolerance in Kenya, saying the country risks sliding back to the divisions witnessed after the disputed 2007 General Election.
In a statement posted on Monday, Musyoka said recent incidents in Kisumu and Nyahururu were not random acts of disruption, but part of a larger pattern that threatens national cohesion and democracy.
“Kenya is standing at a dangerous crossroads,” Musyoka stated. “The political intolerance that many hoped we had left behind after the Post Election Violence of 2007 is steadily returning to our national life.”
The Wiper leader was referring to events that took place on Sunday in Kisumu County and in Nyahururu, Laikipia County, where political gatherings were reportedly disrupted. Videos and reports circulating online showed confrontations, shouting matches, and scenes of chaos as rival groups clashed during political events.
Musyoka said the country cannot afford to treat such episodes as minor or isolated.
“What unfolded in Kisumu and Nyahururu this past Sunday was not an isolated disturbance,” he said. “It was the latest manifestation of that dangerous trend, and it deserves the strongest condemnation for we know where it leads and we must never allow ourselves to return there.”
He called on security agencies to act swiftly and impartially to investigate the incidents, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure that political leaders and their supporters can engage freely without fear of attack.
The 2007-2008 Post Election Violence remains one of the darkest chapters in Kenya’s recent history. More than 1,200 people were killed and over 600,000 displaced after disputes over presidential results triggered ethnic and political clashes across several regions.
Musyoka, who served as Foreign Affairs Minister during that period, said Kenyans paid a heavy price for allowing politics to degenerate into hostility. He argued that the progress made since then through constitutional reforms, peace initiatives, and dialogue must not be undone.
“We fought hard to put that past behind us,” he said. “We enacted a new constitution. We built institutions. We said never again. To see signs of that intolerance creeping back is deeply troubling.”
He urged political leaders across the spectrum to tone down rhetoric that incites division and to embrace debate without violence.
Musyoka’s statement comes at a time when political temperatures are rising ahead of the 2027 General Election. With campaigns already underway in some areas, tensions between rival camps have been increasing, particularly during public rallies and party events.
Analysts say social media has also amplified hostility, with supporters of different leaders often trading insults and threats online.
The Wiper leader said Kenya’s democracy depends on tolerance and respect for differing opinions.
“Politics is about ideas, not intimidation,” he noted. “You do not have to agree with me, but you must allow me to speak. You do not have to support my candidate, but you must allow them to campaign. That is the basis of a free society.”
He warned that if political intolerance is not checked, it could spill over into communities and reverse gains made in peacebuilding over the last 15 years.
Musyoka directed part of his message to fellow senior leaders, urging them to take responsibility for the tone of national politics.
“Leaders must lead by example,” he said. “When you send your supporters to disrupt another leader’s meeting, when you cheer violence, when you stay silent as people are attacked, you are betraying the trust Kenyans gave you.”
He also called on the National Police Service to remain neutral and to protect all citizens equally, regardless of political affiliation.
“The police must not be seen to be taking sides,” Musyoka said. “Their duty is to protect life and property, and to ensure that every Kenyan enjoys their constitutional rights.”
Musyoka’s post drew thousands of reactions online within hours. Many Kenyans expressed agreement, sharing concerns that political events have become increasingly hostile. Others called for a national dialogue to address the growing divide.
“We cannot go back to 2007,” one commenter wrote. “Our children deserve a Kenya where you can support any leader without fear.”
Some, however, argued that politicians themselves bear responsibility for the current climate and must stop using youth to cause chaos.
Civil society organizations also weighed in, echoing Musyoka’s call for accountability and for political parties to sign and respect a code of conduct ahead of 2027.
With just over 18 months to the next General Election, political realignments are intensifying. Both the ruling coalition and opposition groupings are holding rallies, recruitment drives, and strategy meetings across the country.
Musyoka, who is a key figure in the opposition, said the focus should be on issues affecting Kenyans — the economy, jobs, health, and education — rather than on personal attacks and disruption.
“If we spend the next year fighting each other, who will address the cost of unga? Who will address unemployment?” he asked. “Let us compete on ideas. Let us compete on track records. That is what Kenyans deserve.”
He reiterated that the opposition remains committed to providing checks and balances, but insisted that this must be done within the law and with respect for democratic institutions.
In closing, Musyoka appealed to Kenyans to reject attempts to divide them along political, ethnic, or regional lines.
“We are one people,” he said. “What unites us is bigger than what divides us. We have built this nation together, and we must protect it together.”
He said the images coming from Kisumu and Nyahururu should serve as a wake-up call, not just for politicians, but for citizens, religious leaders, elders, and the media.
“This is our country,” Musyoka said. “We cannot outsource peace. We cannot outsource tolerance. It starts with each one of us.”
The Wiper leader’s remarks add to growing calls from different sectors for restraint and responsible politics as the country heads toward 2027. Church leaders, business groups, and international partners have in recent weeks also urged calm and adherence to the rule of law.
Whether political players will heed the warning remains to be seen. But for Musyoka, the message is clear: Kenya cannot afford to revisit its painful past.
“We know where intolerance leads,” he said. “We have been there before. Let us choose a different path this time.”
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