Office Of The First Daughter Is A Plot For 2027- Kalonzo

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka now believes that the creation of the Office of the First Daughter by President William Ruto's daughter, Charlene Ruto, is part of a plan by the current regime to prepare for 2027.

Speaking during a TV47 interview on Thursday, January 5, Kalonzo claimed that the birth of the office, despite not being enshrined in the Constitution, is part of the Kenya Kwanza government's ambition to maintain its ruling status come the 2027 general elections.

He suggested that it should be created alongside other offices, including the Office of the Opposition so that Kenya can be run in a similar manner to a proper kingdom.

Kalonzo Musyoka during an interview with Lizah Mutuku of TV47 on January 5, 2023. /FILE

"Everything the UDA government is doing is aiming at 2027 including the establishment of the office of the first daughter.

"Maybe we should create it alongside the Office of the Opposition as well as the Office of the First Lady, First Daughter, First Son...then you create a proper kingdom," he opined.

His sentiments come after President Ruto was asked about the creation of the Office of the First Daughter by Charlene, stating that even though no such office exists in the Constitution, she is at liberty of being herself.

“Leave my daughter Charlene alone. These are kids, they are just being children. There is no office of the First Daughter. This is a girl who is being herself. She is just being the daughter of William Ruto,” he said.

Her revealing of the office during the YouLead Summit in Arusha, Tanzania where she was in attendance was captured in a video on December 13, 2022, that turned her into a viral sensation overnight.

“So before again I continue, I wanted to introduce quickly my team from Kenya. So, I’ll start from the back. This is Mike Sagana, he’s one of my team members. 

"He’s a politician and he’s my principal advisor in my team. And this is Jermaine Momanyi, he is the head of trade and investments at the office of the first daughter…I don't get what is so funny...” she addressed much to the laughter of the audience.

Kenyans questioned how Charlene constituted and ground such an office out of the blue as well as the legalities of doing so, given that it's not a role that has been synonymous with First Daughters of previous presidents.

She explained the following day that the office is a private entity and is neither provided for in the Constitution of Kenya nor is it being funded by taxpaying Kenyans. According to her, the office only caters for the activities and programs that she runs. 

"The Office of the First Daughter is a private entity. It is neither a constitutional office nor is it being funded by Kenyan taxpayers.

"The office runs to purely facilitate the activities of and any programs being run by Ms Charlene Ruto. Through its independent structure and facilitators, the office has engaged various players across the country and beyond in line with some of its objectives of championing youth-based agendas and climate change advocacy," she stated.

Charlene added that the Office of the First Daughter has at all times acted in good faith to ensure that the Kenyan Youth have a voice and get access to opportunities to enable sustainable livelihoods.