If there was ever anyone in history whose consistency of availability has made it possible for every politician to pay attention, that would be Man Stevo, Kalonzo Musyoka.
He is the man who has stayed relevant across decades of shifting political winds, not because he is the loudest voice or the most radical reformer, but because his presence provides a balance of calm, respect, and patience that few Kenyan leaders can rival.
Kalonzo has managed to clean the tag of “watermelon,” a label once thrown at him by critics who saw him as indecisive. Today, that very patience and careful balancing has turned into a virtue that attracts believability from the masses.
He has remained in politics long enough to earn trust, and in a country where political scandals are almost a routine, he stands out as one of the few leaders never accused of using office to amass questionable wealth. From the 1980s to date, Kalonzo has held public office without his name ever being tainted by corruption, and that alone makes him a rare breed.
If there was ever a safe pair of hands in Kenyan politics, it is Kalonzo Musyoka. If pragmatism was a person, it would be him. He embodies moderation, sobriety, and caution, qualities that have made him the man everyone calls when things threaten to fall apart. He is the glue that keeps unlikely coalitions together, the mediator who is trusted by opposing camps, and the steady hand that tempers political storms.
Kalonzo has also consistently espoused family values and a deep religious faith. His lifestyle has remained modest compared to many of his contemporaries. He is known for being a family man, a man of prayer, and a leader who does not flaunt excesses. This profile has made him relatable to ordinary Kenyans who crave leaders that reflect their values.
In every election cycle, Kenyans have gone for what they consider the lesser evil, and in many cases the point of convergence has been Kalonzo.
He has played the role of kingmaker multiple times, standing beside Raila Odinga since 2013, offering loyalty that few other political figures could sustain for over a decade. In 2007, he was the “compromise candidate” who took the Vice Presidency when the country was in flames, and even his harshest critics agree that he helped stabilize a nation on the brink.
You cannot doubt the reform agenda of William Ruto. His projects dot the country, from housing units in towns and villages to infrastructure that is meant to touch the ordinary mwananchi.
But the amount of pressure Kenyans have endured to finance this agenda has broken many backs. The balance is missing, and what the country now requires is a fusion between a reformist like Ruto and a pragmatist like Kalonzo. For sustainable development, the steady hand of a man like Kalonzo is essential.
As 2027 approaches, Kenyans are looking forward to a cooling off period. The politics of heat, chest thumping, and confrontation has exhausted the public. The next President, from 2027 onward to 2032, must embody calm, sobriety, and inclusivity. In the eyes of many Kenyans, Kalonzo Musyoka represents that cool balance.
It is no wonder that everyone needs Kalonzo. Ruto needs him to calm the storm and give him five years as a deputy. Raila Odinga needs to reward his fifteen years of loyalty, and he remains an acceptable face to the people of Nyanza who respect his steadfast partnership.
Matiang’i, should he re-emerge in 2027, would need him to cement a solid ticket. Even Rigathi Gachagua would find in him a partner who can carry the Mount Kenya South agenda with credibility and without polarizing the nation.
Yet Kalonzo represents more than just pragmatism. He is the last tribal chief in Kenyan politics, a custodian of Kamba unity who has held his community together in every election. Unlike other regions where loyalty has shifted or fragmented, Ukambani has remained firmly behind Kalonzo.
He commands respect as a cultural and political figurehead, a role that is fading in Kenya’s new generation of politics. His ability to deliver his community as a block makes him indispensable in coalition arithmetic. He carries the symbolism of the last kingmaker, one foot rooted in the traditions of ethnic loyalty and another in the modern demands of national politics.
What is clear is that the Lake and the Mountain will soon step back and allow other regions to take leadership, while still holding influence in the background.
That vacuum will demand a figure who is trusted, moderate, and acceptable across the divides. Kalonzo Musyoka stands tall as that figure.
In the end, Kalonzo is not just a politician. He is a constant in Kenya’s shifting politics. He is the last tribal chief, the final unifying custodian of his people, and the one leader who still embodies both cultural loyalty and national acceptability. Everyone needs him, not just because he brings votes, but because he brings peace of mind.
