During Ruto’s recent visit to Kitui County, video footage circulating on social media shows him being shouted down and largely rejected by a crowd.
Supporters in the crowd reportedly yelled “Uongo! Toka hapa!” (“Lies! Get out of here!”), a moment that underscored growing political tension in the region.
According to Manyora, Kalonzo Musyoka was left with no choice but to react publicly and forcefully.
Manyora argues that the heckling wasn’t just about Ruto; it carried strong symbolic weight. Kitui is part of Ukambani, a region closely aligned with Kalonzo’s political identity.
By staying silent, Manyora contends, Kalonzo would risk looking weak or disconnected from his own base.
Manyora sees Kalonzo emerging as a unifying opposition figure. In his view, the heckling episode plays into a larger narrative: that Kalonzo is no longer a secondary or marginal opposition player, but someone building serious traction.
Manyora noted that Ruto may have miscalculated the political cost of underestimating Kalonzo. He believed Ruto expected disunity or fragmentation among his rivals; instead, “Kalonzo has just become the automatic flag bearer,” Manyora said.
By reacting, Kalonzo sends a signal not just to his supporters, but to Ruto and his administration that he cares about how his home region perceives the head of state.
Manyora suggests that Kalonzo’s response is both defensive and strategic: he’s defending his territory, but also leveraging the moment to elevate his national relevance.
Manyora further warns that Ruto should be worried if Kalonzo continues to consolidate his base. The political analyst argues that Ruto may now need to “do more than he had originally prepared for” to counter a Kalonzo whose stature is rising.
This moment in Kitui, Manyora says, could become a turning point: Kalonzo’s emergence is not just local, but national. If he plays his cards well, Manyora believes, Kalonzo could become a formidable challenger in the next election cycle.
