Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has turned down an invitation from Kitui County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto to attend the upcoming Mashujaa Day celebrations, scheduled to take place on October 20, 2025 at Ithookwe Showground in Kitui Central.
Kalonzo made the remarks on Sunday July 13, 2025 while addressing congregants during a fundraiser at New Apostolic Church in Gai, Kyuso, Mwingi North.
“I will not attend the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui, but the President and everybody else is free to attend the national event because we have the freedom of movement,” said Kalonzo.
The Wiper leader explained that he cannot share a platform with President William Ruto, whom he accused of not accommodating criticism.
He accused the Head of State of leading an administration that is intolerant of dissent and incapable of accommodating criticism — a principle he emphasized as fundamental to any functioning democracy.
At the same time, Kalonzo also condemned ongoing extrajudicial killings and criticized the President’s decision to allocate Ksh1.2 billion for the construction of a church within the State House grounds, calling the move misplaced.
“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 majority of Kenyans will reject the proposal to spend Ksh1.2 billion on a church at State House,” said Kalonzo.
