Kalonzo snubs Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has declined an invitation to attend the 2025 Mashujaa Day (Heroes Day) celebrations scheduled to take place at the Ithookwe Showground in Kitui Central, Kitui County.
Speaking during a church fundraiser on Sunday, July 13, at the New Apostolic Church in Gai, Kyuso, Mwingi North, the honcho openly dismissed the invitation extended to him by Kitui County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto.
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The former Vice President cited what he termed as disrespect and political intolerance by the national government.
“How do you expect me, Mr. Kipchumbo Ruto (County Commissioner), to respond that on October 20, 2025, you have invited me to go to Heroes Day in Kitui? You cannot even wait to hear from me. That is so disrespectful,” Kalonzo said while addressing the congregation.
“I want to tell you that I will not come, but the President and everybody else are free to attend the national event because we have the freedom of movement,” he added.
The event, which is part of Kenya’s national calendar, is expected to be presided over by President William Ruto and will feature various dignitaries and citizens gathering to honour national heroes and heroines.
However, Kalonzo’s absence is likely to fuel further political tension, especially within the Ukambani region, which remains a key battleground in the country’s shifting political landscape.
Government at war?
Kalonzo cited his refusal to share a platform with President Ruto as a matter of principle, accusing the Head of State of overseeing an administration that he claims is intolerant of opposing views.
He described the current government as one that “cannot accommodate criticism,” asserting that dissent is a cornerstone of any democratic society.
“I cannot stand with someone who leads a government that is intolerant to criticism. In a true democracy, leaders must welcome opposing views without resorting to suppression,” Kalonzo said.
His remarks come at a time when political tensions are running high in the country, following weeks of youth-led protests demanding accountability, better governance, and an end to rising living costs.
Kalonzo, a key figure in the United Opposition, has increasingly positioned himself as a defender of democratic values and a critic of what he perceives as authoritarian tendencies in the Ruto administration.
Kalonzo criticised the President’s controversial plan to build a Ksh1.2 billion modern church within the State House grounds, calling it a misplaced priority given the country’s pressing economic challenges.
“For the President to construct a modern church at State House, he needed to do a public participation to get views of Kenyans, according to the Constitution, and I know the majority of Kenyans will reject the proposal to spend Ksh1.2 billion on a church at State House,” Kalonzo argued.
He also raised alarm over reports of extrajudicial killings, urging the government to uphold the rule of law and human rights.
