Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Sunday firmly turned down a string of invitations from President William Ruto's allies to cross over to the government side, declaring that he will be on the presidential ballot in 2027 and will face the President there.

Speaking at a church service in Machakos, the former Vice President said he had heard the calls but would not take them up. "Thank you, but no!" he said, according to Citizen Digital, adding: "I cannot join hands with predators."

Kalonzo said Ruto himself had acknowledged that he was his biggest challenger in a democratic contest. "We meet at the ballot," he told the congregation.

Overtures after Lavington heckling

The courtship intensified after Kalonzo was heckled last week at the unveiling of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi Movement headquarters in Lavington, when a section of the crowd chanted Sifuna's name as the Wiper boss questioned his endorsement as the opposition's 2027 candidate.

On Sunday morning, UDA leaders in Kitui used a burial in Nuu, Mwingi Central, to renew the invitation. Nominated Senator Beth Syengo said Kalonzo deserved respect and that there was room for him in Ruto's camp. "Sisi tunakuheshimu na tunasema hapa kwa William Ruto kuna nafasi," she said, warning that staying in the opposition alliance could bring him more frustration. She also blamed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for the embarrassment in Lavington.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier condemned the heckling and also invited Kalonzo to work with the government.

Gachagua: 'Come to Wamunyoro'

Gachagua, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, hit back at the courtship during a service at PCEA Kamangu in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. He named Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and presidential aide Farouk Kibet among those he said were trying to woo the Wiper leader, The Star reported.

"I want to tell Ruto's allies to stop bothering Kalonzo," Gachagua said, describing the Wiper leader as his cousin and himself as "the family spokesman". He invited anyone seeking Kalonzo's support to "come to Wamunyoro", his Nyeri home, adding that they stood no chance.

"This Kalonzo Musyoka you are playing with, he is not the one you are used to," Gachagua said, according to Capital FM. "I stayed with him for two years. This is a reliable leader, and he cannot betray the people of Kenya."

Pressure inside the opposition

Kalonzo's rejection comes as the United Opposition grapples with how to settle on a single presidential candidate. Besides Kalonzo and Sifuna, others eyeing the seat include Jubilee's Fred Matiang'i, Gachagua and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

The Wiper leader has also turned inward. Kenyans.co.ke reported that at a house-warming for Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu on Saturday, he chided Wiper members for failing to turn up at the Lavington event in numbers, urging them to "move as a team" and saying he had been shocked by the poor showing compared with DCP's well-organised supporters.

Kalonzo has said consultations on the opposition flagbearer are continuing, with talks among presidential hopefuls lined up for November 13.

Photos: Citizen Digital; Capital FM. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.