Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has responded to former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka over his assertion that he is unwilling to work with the government.
In a statement on Sunday, June 15, the deputy president acknowledged the remarks but did not take kindly to the "unkind words" Kalonzo said about him.
On Sunday morning, Kalonzo described Kindiki as "Mr Half term", asserting that his invitation to join the ruling alliance was a diversionary tactic meant to destabilise the united opposition coalition.
As such, DP Kindiki stated that he would not engage the former VP in a public battle of words, as that was not his intention, maintaining that he still held the Wiper Party leader in high regard.
"I hear my big brother Kalonzo has said he doesn’t wish to work with me politically. That is fine with me. For the unkind things he has said about me, I won’t answer him back publicly, not because I can’t, but because I never do public duels with people I respect," part of the statement read.
However, he revealed that despite his high regard for Kalonzo, he was not beyond indulging in a head-on confrontation with him if he did not stop spreading lies about him.
Despite the rejection by the opposition, however, he relayed that he would keep pushing the development agenda to work for all Kenyans.
"Nevertheless, if he continues with his falsehoods unprovoked, I will happily tackle him head-on. Respect is a two-way street. For now, Kalonzo will remain the good big brother I have known for decades," Kindiki stated.
"Meanwhile, the Government’s development agenda for all the people of this nation will continue undeterred, irrespective of who is working with whom for whatever objective."
Over the weekend, Kindiki had made remarks alluding to wanting to engage the opposition leader for possible cooperation, something that prompted a strong reaction from Kalonzo.
A report by the Standard also suggested that Kalonzo could be rethinking his political stance—a shift that analysts warned could fracture the opposition’s unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This is all diversionary and a poor attempt to divide the United Opposition. I cannot work with or meet up with people with Gen Z blood on their hands, including that of Albert Ojwang. Kenyans know the truth, Mr HalfTam: I will always be on the side of the people,” Kalonzo said in a statement, referencing the recent death of Ojwang inside Nairobi's Central Police Station.
