In 2023, a handful of politicians found themselves in the spotlight for diverse reasons, ranging from remarkable achievements within the political landscape to the prominent positions they hold.
While the country’s political realm remains unpredictable, some of these individuals are likely to continue making significant moves in 2024.
We take a look at some of the men and women, in politics, to watch this year:
Kalonzo Musyoka
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has arguably been the face of the opposition in the country in recent months.
Kalonzo continues to slowly take a lead in the succession of long-serving opposition leader Raila Odinga, sparking speculations that the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader is propping the Wiper boss to face off with President Ruto in the 2027 elections.
At the height of anti-government protests between March and July last year, the opposition heavily used the Steven Kalonzo Musyoka (SKM) Command Centre in Karen to make key declarations.
For instance, a requiem mass for the victims of police brutality was held at the SKM centre on July 28, 2023.
The requiem mass was initially scheduled to be held at the De Paul grounds in Karen, but the venue was changed at the last minute after police warned the centre not to host the prayers.
Kalonzo alleged that the catholic church was threatened by state operatives against hosting the Azimio leaders.
During the event, attended by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, Azimio launched a benevolent fund for the affected persons and their kin.
On July 31, a few days after the Azimio event, Raila tasked Kalonzo with co-chairing talks between the opposition coalition and the Kenya Kwanza side aimed at ending a stalemate on the cost of living and disputed results of the 2022 presidential poll. Kalonzo chaired the 10-member National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) alongside Kenya Kwanza’s Kimani Ichung’wah.
While the recommendations of the committee seem to have divided the coalition, Kalonzo and Raila have stuck to their guns and acknowledged NADCO’s report as a crucial starting point. The committee proposed, among others, an audit of last year’s polls and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of Opposition and Prime Minister into the constitution.
In a recent interview, Kalonzo vowed to run for president in 2027, regardless of whether he receives backing from Raila or not.
Kalonzo, who has supported Raila’s presidential ambitions thrice in the past, also ruled out the possibility of endorsing Raila’s bid for a fourth time in 2027.
The former vice president insisted that sacrificing his ambitions for the presidency in 2027 would mean going home.
“Giving up my ambitions will actually mean I go home. We are at the tail-end of a process which should deliver this country,” he added.
It will be interesting to see how 2024 unfolds for Kalonzo, who has in the past been labelled a watermelon for supposedly being politically indecisive.
Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga is undoubtedly the man to watch in 2024.
In 2023, the opposition chief brought the country to a standstill with calls for street demonstrations to protest against the results of the 2022 presidential election and the high cost of living occasioned by President William Ruto’s move to increase taxes on basic commodities.
He has vowed to remain steadfast in keeping the government in check this year, especially on the cost of living after NADCO failed to strike a consensus on ways to bring down prices of food and fuel.
“I will not remain silent in 2024 when Kenyans struggle to give taxes to a regime who are concerned with fulfilling selfish interests,” Raila said.
“I decided to allow bi-partisan talks to be completed and embraced recommendations to salvage Kenyans but still high cost of living is still a problem to our people. Kenyans started this year with lots of hope for the Ruto administration but things have turned out differently to their expectations,” he added.
Speaking in Siaya on December 30, Raila told the government to brace for a return of street protests in 2024 if Ruto’s administration does not act.
“Only two days remain and we get to the next year. We are not going to be silent when we touch that year. Burdened Kenyans cannot suffer under the leadership of President William Ruto who swore to relieve them from economic distress. I will blow the whistle and expect Kenyans who are fed up with the regime to join the mother of demonstrations to register their dissatisfaction with the Ruto-led administration,” the Azimio leader said.
“We are in a country run by a clueless leader. He was quick to grab power and he has been overwhelmed by the huge shield hence not able to fight for Kenyans,” he added.
Martha Karua
Azimio co-principal Martha Karua remains a force to reckon with within the opposition.
The Narc Kenya party leader’s move to reject NADCO’s report continues to spark speculations of a rift in the Azimio coalition despite Raila’s assurance that the leaders remain united.
Karua on December 3 termed the NADCO report as troubling, problematic and unacceptable, days after Raila endorsed the report despite admitting that it was “imperfect and unfinished”.
The former justice minister christened the Iron Lady, in a series of social media posts, termed the report as a fraud and called for its total rejection.
She received backing from NADCO member, Eugine Wamalwa, who also called for immediate actions to lower the cost of living that has seen prices of basic commodities shoot through the roof.
“Any purported agreement that does not immediately impact on the cost of living, electoral justice and respect for multiparty democracy is a fraud on the people and must be rejected,” Karua said.
The protests sparked speculations of the Narc Kenya leader’s walkout from the coalition.
Despite denying the reports, her absence in key Azimio functions including the event where Raila endorsed the committee’s report continues to elicit mixed reactions.
Karua’s recent meetings with a section of leaders in a Mount Kenya group dubbed ‘Kamwene’ have also raised eyebrows.
Karua and Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni formally unveiled the Kamwene caucus in October to champion the interests of the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
The formation of the new political movement lent some credence to possible differences within the Azimio coalition but the politicians were quick to dismiss the claims.
It remains to be seen what Karua has in store for Kenyans this year.
George Natembeya & Gladys Wanga
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and his Homa Bay counterpart Gladys Wanga were in November ranked as the most performing governors.
The two county bosses emerged as the top performers in a list of 25 governors, achieving an average score of 70 per cent each in a survey conducted by Infotrak.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin came in third with 67 per cent, while Simba Arati (Kisii), Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a), Jeremiah Lomurkai (Turkana) and Mutula Kilonzo (Makueni) tied at position four with 64%.
In the survey conducted in July and August 2023, residents were asked to rate their governor’s performance using the 1-10 Likert scale, where 1 was very poor and 10 was excellent.
Notably, in July Governor Natembeya launched the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), vowing to propel the county’s growth and prosperity in the next five years.
The new plan placed a strong emphasis on pivotal sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, employment, infrastructure, water access, governance, and devolution.
Wanga, on her part, boasts of notable achievements such as the construction of the Outpatient Department at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, maternity unit at the Rachuonyo District Hospital, Magina Health Centre, Miniambo, among other facilities.
The two leading county bosses are likely to continue to gain attention for their leadership style and progressive policies this year.
Ndindi Nyoro
Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro was ranked as the best-performing MP in 2023.
A report released by opinion poll firm Infotrak in November last year ranked Nyoro as the best-performing MP in the country with a performance rating of 70 per cent.
More than half of the MPs in the 13th Parliament received an approval rating of more than 50 per cent in the survey dubbed the CountyTrak Performance Index. The poll, conducted across the 290 constituencies between July and September 2023, had an overall sample size of 58,748.
In the survey, Nyoro was followed closely by his Kangema counterpart Peter Irungu at 68 per cent.
Five MPs ranked third at 66 per cent, including Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), Gideon Mulyungi (Mwingi Central), Christopher Wangaya (Kwisero), Robert Mbui (Kathiani) and Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town).
With the trend, Nyoro is poised to make substantial moves in 2024.
Kawira Mwangaza
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s stay in office has been chaotic despite her huge victory in the August 2022 elections.
Mwangaza survived a second impeachment at the Senate in November last year, a year after an 11-member Senate committee saved her.
Senators on November on November 8, 2023, voted to give the embattled governor a new lease of life in the county after Meru MCAs passed a motion to kick her out of office on seven charges.
The governor faced charges of misappropriation and misuse of resources, nepotism, bullying, illegal appointments, contempt of court, and naming a road after her husband illegally.
However, the Senate plenary said all the charges against the county chief had not been substantiated.
It remains to be seen if the relationship between Mwangaza and Meru MCAs will improve in 2024 even as the ward representatives remain adamant on sending the governor home.
President Ruto & DP Gachagua
For the better part of last year, President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, faced criticism over unpopular policies fronted by the Kenya Kwanza administration, including additional taxes and levies.
Proposals such as the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products, 1.5 per cent housing levy, and an increase in service fees for essential government sparked outrage among Kenyans.
The introduction of these new taxes significantly escalated the cost of living. The president and his deputy defended these changes, emphasizing the need to sustain the government amidst a huge public debt inherited from the former administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In recent months, the two leaders have reassured Kenyans about the stabilisation of the economy, affirming that the country is on the right economic trajectory.
They continue to call on Kenyans to exercise patience while the Kenya Kwanza administration works toward fulfilling its election promises, especially on lowering the cost of living.
As the new year begins, Kenyans are hoping that the politicians will honour their campaign pledges.
