The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has explained the reasons behind the party’s decision to adopt a new name, Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF), saying the move is aimed at responding to the concerns of young Kenyans and giving the party a stronger national identity.
Speaking during the Kakuyuni Consultations in Malindi, Kalonzo said the rebranding was influenced by the growing political awareness among young people, particularly following youth-led protests over proposed tax increases and the Finance Bill 2024.
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According to Kalonzo, the new identity seeks to bring Kenyans together and provide a political platform that reflects the challenges facing the country.
He said the experiences of young people during the demonstrations, including arrests and detention, played a role in shaping the party’s new direction.
Kalonzo also pointed to unemployment and the economic challenges affecting young people as some of the reasons behind the change, saying the party wanted its new identity to reflect the aspirations of the younger generation.
The Wiper leader first announced plans to rebrand the party in June, saying the move would help give it a national outlook and encourage more young people to join.
At the time, he said the party would adopt the name Wiper Patriotic Front as part of efforts to ensure that Gen Z was fully represented within its political movement.
The proposed change was subsequently approved by the party’s National Executive Council, after which Kalonzo received a new registration certificate from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Why the Word ‘Democratic’ Was Dropped
Kalonzo has also explained the decision to remove the word “Democratic” from the party’s name.
He argued that the term no longer resonated with many young Kenyans, who he said were increasingly demanding accountability, transparency and meaningful political change.
According to the Wiper leader, the new name reflects what he described as a shift in the party’s political purpose and identity.
“This is the party of the future, the party of the youth,”Kalonzo has said, arguing that the WPF seeks to capture the patriotic spirit demonstrated by young Kenyans during recent protests.
Wiper Eyes Millions of Members
As part of the rebranding strategy, Kalonzo said the party intends to significantly expand its membership across Kenya.
He has set an ambitious target of increasing membership from approximately one million to between three million and four million members.
The party also plans to field candidates at various levels of government as it seeks to establish a stronger presence outside its traditional political strongholds.
The rebranding comes as opposition parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Kalonzo seeking to build a wider political movement centred on youth participation, accountability and what he describes as national liberation.
