State House accused of blocking gazettement of Azimio leadership changes

Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka accused State House of interfering with the publication of Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party’s leadership changes in the Kenya Gazette, terming the move an attack on Kenya’s multiparty democracy.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Kalonzo said the Government Printer had been instructed to halt the gazettement of Azimio’s newly constituted leadership despite the changes having been legally effected and approved by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).

According to Kalonzo, Philip Kisia was appointed Executive Director, Caroli Omondi as Secretary General, while he assumed the position of Party Leader, appointments he said were made in accordance with the law. He noted that the ORPP had formally accepted the changes and that local daily newspapers had already published them last week.

“The Kenya Gazette was scheduled to publish the changes on Friday, February 6, 2026. Then came the interference,” Kalonzo said.

He linked the alleged move to a broader pattern of state interference in opposition politics, arguing that it directly contradicts the principles agreed upon during the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks. Kalonzo co-chaired the bipartisan dialogue process, which produced a 10-point agenda that included a commitment to uphold fidelity to the law on multiparty democracy.

“I participated in the NADCO process in good faith, believing we were building consensus on strengthening Kenya’s democratic institutions,” he said. “Yet the same administration is now undermining the very principles we agreed upon.”

Kalonzo warned that allowing State House to arbitrarily block the gazettement of legally constituted political party leadership sets a dangerous precedent.

“When State House can stop the publication of legitimate party leadership, it is not just Azimio under attack, but Kenya’s multiparty democracy itself,” he said.

He further accused President William Ruto’s administration of using state machinery to weaken opposition parties instead of engaging in political competition based on ideas and performance.

Azimio leaders said they would pursue all available legal avenues to compel the gazettement of the leadership changes.

“Democracy cannot function when those in power manipulate the rules to silence dissent,” Kalonzo said.

As of publication, State House and the Government Printer had not publicly responded to the allegations.