Phillip Etale: Kalonzo Could Have Died in 2023 Protests Over Cost of Living
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka nearly lost his life during the 2023 anti-government demonstrations against the high cost of living, according to ODM Director of Communications, Philip Etale.
Etale offered a chilling first-hand account of the protest, revealing the moment Kalonzo’s life was put in danger during what began as a peaceful demonstration.
“The reception by angry and hungry Kenyans was enormous,” Etale said. “Just slightly after the Moi Airbase, the convoy of over 500 vehicles escorted by thousands of Kenyans chanting anti-government slogans was confronted by lorry loads of overzealous anti-riot police officers. Shortly thereafter, water cannons emerged from alleys in Mathare and Huruma Estate.”
What followed, according to Etale, was a calculated attempt to suppress the opposition with excessive force. Security forces reportedly targeted Kalonzo’s vehicle, launching tear gas canisters that shattered windows and flooded the cabin with gas. Kalonzo lost consciousness.
“You passed out for some minutes because of the gas that had filled your car. You came out in a bad state,” Etale recounted. “I have not forgotten how KDD, in which I was riding, was attacked by cops. They thought we would suffocate and succumb.”
The former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was accused by Etale of issuing the orders that put opposition lives at risk during the protest.
Etale’s account comes as Kalonzo and Gachagua are seen warming up to each other politically following the latter’s impeachment. Gachagua has since joined the opposition, and there are signs that he and Kalonzo could cooperate in the run-up to the 2027 General Election.
Etale questioned the political alliance, urging Kalonzo to remember the life-threatening situation allegedly orchestrated under Gachagua’s watch.
The events described took place during one of Kenya’s most volatile periods in recent history, when thousands took to the streets to protest soaring inflation and economic mismanagement. The protests spanned key areas including Riverside, Pangani, and Juja Road.
Etale’s revelation not only sheds light on the intensity of the crackdown but also revives questions about the role of state security forces in handling civilian dissent and opposition-led demonstrations.
With Kalonzo’s rising influence in the opposition and Gachagua’s re-entry into the political battlefield, the events of 2023 continue to cast a long shadow over current alliances and future strategies.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, memories of tear gas, shattered windows, and unconscious leaders may shape the narratives and alliances that define the next political contest.
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Phillip Etale: Kalonzo Could Have Died in 2023 Protests Over Cost of Living