Kalonzo Musyoka

DATE OF BIRTH


December 24, 1953

GENDER


Male

OCCUPATION


Politician, Lawyer

FAMILY


Married to Pauline Musyoka. They have three children.

BIOGRAPHY


Education background: Early learning at Tseikuru Full Primary School between 1960 and 1967 before he proceeded to Kitui High School for O levels, then Meru School for A levels. Joined university of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1977. He also holds a post graduate diploma in legal practice from the Kenya School of Law (KSL) which he obtained in 1978. Additionally, he holds a postgraduate diploma in Business from the Mediterranean Institute of Management in Cyprus.  

Married to Pauline Musyoka, they have three children: Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo, Klein Kalonzo and Damaris Musenya. Kennedy, the first born, is a lawyer and serves as a member of the  East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

First elected in parliament in 1985, Mr Musyoka served as Kenya’s 10th vice president between 2008 and 2010 under late President Mwai Kibaki. 

He first tried his hand in politics when he unsuccessfully vied for the Kitui North Constituency parliamentary seat in 1983 and lost to Phillip Manandu. However, two years later, the seat was declared vacant after the death of Mr Manandu and Mr Musyoka, then aged 32, was voted in in the by-election that followed.

He was appointed Assistant Minister for Works, Housing and Physical Planning in 1986. He was re-elected as MP in the 1988 general election and was also elected Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, serving until the 1992 general election.

Late former President Daniel Moi appointed him Foreign Minister. He also served as Minister for Education and Information, communication and Tourism until 2002.

He also served as the National Organizing Secretary for Kanu from 1988 to 2002. He quit Kanu in 2002 and together with Mr Raila Odinga, the late George Saitoti and JJ Kamotho, he joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) which joined forces with Mr Kibaki’s NAK to form a new government after the 2002 elections. He was once again appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs but was re-deployed to the Ministry of Environment in a cabinet reshuffle in 2004.

Mr Moi had previously appointed him to chair the Sudan-Somalia peace talks but Mr Kibaki later replaced him in 2004. He was sacked from cabinet, where he served as Environment Minister, alongside Mr Odinga after they opposed the draft Constitution that had been proposed by Ministers allied to the former Head of state in the 2005 referendum. Mr Kalonzo reportedly received his dismissal letter from then Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura telling him to resign with immediate effect.

He founded ODM-K and used it contest the 2007 presidential election where he came third behind Mr Kibaki and Mr Odinga. He was subsequently appointed vice president in the grand coalition government that was formed by the two rivals after peace negotiations mediated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan.

He would later join hands with Mr Odinga in the 2013 general election where he was his running mate, and again in the 2017 general election. 


Latest articles on Kalonzo Musyoka:

  1. National Dialogue Committee presents report after D-Day standoff

    The team is set to present to the National Assembly a list of agreed and disputed issues.

    National Dialogue Committee co-chairpersons Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung'wah
  2. PREMIUM Muthama: Only Raila can challenge Ruto in 2027

    Muthama also added that Uhuru was not keen on seeing Raila become President.

    Johnson Muthama
  3. PREMIUM Azimio to snub Ruto-Raila talks in push to oust Sabina Chege

    Azimio threatens to keep off the retreat by the NDC if its House leadership changes are not approved.

    Kalonzo and Ichung’wah
  4. PREMIUM Why Raila retracted his 'Kalonzo Tosha' statement

    Raila had showered Kalonzo with praises, underscoring his support in three elections.

    Azimio leader Raila Odinga with Wiper chief Kalonzo Musyoka
  5. Police block Raila from Portland demolition site

    He said it was unfortunate that the demolitions were taking place at the start of the rains.

    Portland Cement land demolitions
  6. I did not endorse Kalonzo for 2027, Raila now says

    Spokesman says praise was an appreciation of past deeds.

    Azimio La Umoja Coalition Leader Raila Odinga (left) confers with Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka
  7. Raila endorses Kalonzo to face Ruto in 2027

    Raila praised Kalonzo for standing with him for three consecutive elections.

    Raila and Kalonzo Bondo
  8. Ukambani leaders to President Ruto: Stop evictions on disputed land

    Demolition of homes started on Friday, six days after squatters lost court case to Portland Cement firm.

    Mavoko MP Patrick Makau
  9. Kalonzo defends Mutua after ridicule over Cabinet reshuffle

    Some Wiper MPs mocked Dr Mutua after he was "demoted" from the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

    Kalonzo Musyoka
  10. Cherera Four stick to their guns on Ruto victory

    Ex-commissioner Irene Masit says she is in exile for questioning results.

    Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyang'aya
  11. Which way Azimio? Wiper wants Raila to endorse Kalonzo Musyoka

  12. Which way Azimio? Wiper wants Raila to endorse Kalonzo Musyoka

  13. Kalonzo: We now recognise Ruto as president

    Raila had led his troops in rejecting Ruto's election but talk of alleged illegitimacy has died down recently.

    Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka
  14. Cut ties with Kalonzo, Gachagua tells Kamba community

    DP said Wiper leader would lose big in the planned all-party talks between the government and the opposition.

    Gachagua
  15. Hidden agenda in Ruto, Raila ceasefire

    Key players in both camps trying to halt the talks over fears that they could lose big if the principals seal a political deal.

    Raila Odinga
  16. Azimio want talks to start Monday, stick to 30-day deadline

    Azimio lead negotiator Kalonzo wrote to Kimani Ichung’wah of Kenya Kwanza saying time is of the essence

    Kalonzo
  17. Raila, Ruto talks: Azimio unveils team to engage Kenya Kwanza

    The talks will be guided by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Raila Odinga
  18. Surprise as Uhuru attends Azimio mass

    The requiem mass is for victims of police brutality.

    Azimio leaders
  19. Raila's Azimio plots to storm Nairobi city centre on day 3 of protests

    However, by 11:30am, there was little action around Jeevanjee Gardens.

    Jeevanjee Gardens