NAIROBI, Kenya — Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused State House of interfering with Kenya’s multiparty democratic process by blocking the publication of Azimio la Umoja’s leadership changes in the Kenya Gazette.
In a statement issued, the former Vice President said the Government Printer had been instructed not to gazette the coalition’s newly constituted leadership, despite the changes having been legally approved by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and already published in local newspapers.
According to Kalonzo, the leadership appointments, Philip Kisia as Executive Director, Caroli Omondi as Secretary General, and himself as Party Leader, followed due process and were scheduled for gazettement on Friday, February 6, 2026, before what he described as last-minute interference.
“The facts are simple,” Kalonzo said. “Our changes were legally effected, accepted by the Registrar of Political Parties, and published in the dailies. The Kenya Gazette was scheduled to publish them — then came the interference.”
The Wiper leader said the alleged move directly contradicts commitments made during the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks, which he co-chaired, particularly the agenda item on fidelity to the law and respect for multiparty democracy.
“I participated in NADCO in good faith, believing we were building consensus on strengthening democratic institutions,” Kalonzo said.
“Yet we are now witnessing the same administration undermining the very principles we agreed on.”
He warned that blocking the gazettement of legally constituted party leadership sets a dangerous precedent, arguing that it is not just Azimio under threat but the integrity of Kenya’s democratic system.
“When State House can arbitrarily stop the publication of legitimate political party leadership, it is not an attack on Azimio alone — it is an attack on Kenya’s multiparty democracy,” he said.
Kalonzo further accused President William Ruto’s administration of using state machinery to weaken opposition coalitions rather than engaging in political competition based on ideas, policy, and performance.
“This is yet another example of using state power to suppress political competition instead of competing on track record,” he added.
The Azimio leadership said it will pursue all legal options to compel the gazettement of the changes, insisting that democratic governance cannot function where rules are selectively applied.
“Democracy cannot survive when those in power manipulate institutions to silence dissent,” Kalonzo said.
Neither State House nor the Government Printer had responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
