IN SHORT: Viral social media posts in Kenya, claiming Musyoka has joined president William Ruto's camp ahead of August 2027 elections, are false. They recycle a March 2024 State House video and falsely present it as a recent meeting.
Posts circulating on X, Facebook and TikTok claim that former Kenyan vice president Kalonzo Musyoka has abandoned the opposition and joined president William Ruto's government.
The posts share a video of Musyoka heartily shaking hands with Ruto at State House in Nairobi and suggest the meeting is recent.
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Some captions claim Musyoka has joined the "Tutam" movement and left the opposition coalition. "Tutam", a corruption of "two terms", is the slogan used by Ruto's supporters campaigning for his re-election in 2027. It contrasts with the opposition-backed "Wantam" (one-term) slogan which calls for Ruto to be voted out in 2027.
The posts began circulating on 28 July 2026 and have collectively attracted more than 488,000 views, thousands of likes and hundreds of comments and shares.
Why claim is circulating
Musyoka, widely known by his first name Kalonzo, is one of Kenya's longest-serving opposition politicians. He served as vice president under former president Mwai Kibaki, was ex-premier Raila Odinga's running mate in the 2013 and 2017 elections, and played a leading role in the Azimio coalition in 2022, of which he became the leader in February 2026.
He is also a key principal in the "United Alternative Government" opposition coalition, preparing to challenge Ruto in the 2027 election
For years, he has faced recurring speculation that he easily switches political sides, leading to the watermelon label critics gave him during the 2010 constitutional referendum. More recently, Ruto and other senior government figures have publicly urged him to join the government.
Against this backdrop, the State House video has been used to suggest Musyoka secretly negotiated with the president. But is that true? We checked.
Video over two years old
There is no evidence that Musyoka has abandoned the opposition or recently met Ruto at State House to negotiate joining the government.
The video being shared as evidence of this is more than two years old at time of publication. It was recorded on 8 March 2024 when Musyoka visited State House, the Kenyan presidential residence, to present the national dialogue committee (Nadco) report. He co-chaired the committee with national assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah.
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Nadco was established to help resolve the political standoff following the disputed 2022 elections and the 2023 protests. Its report made recommendations on governance, electoral reforms and other national issues.
The handshake shown in the viral clip took place during the official presentation of the report. After the event, Musyoka rejected claims that the meeting signalled a "handshake" or collaborative government.
The claim has also been denied by Musyoka's allies. On 30 July 2026, his party, the Wiper Patriotic Front, issued a statement describing the reports as propaganda intended to divide the opposition.
It said Musyoka "remains firmly committed to the United Alternative Government" and urged supporters to ignore "sponsored propaganda, fake narratives or recycled misinformation". Musyoka later appeared alongside other opposition leaders at a press conference, dismissing the claims as lies and propaganda.
The claim is false. The viral video was recorded on 8 March 2024, and there is no evidence that Musyoka has left the opposition or joined Ruto's government.
