"Kitavi's death is a big loss not only for the community where he comes from, but also for the entire journalism fraternity," Kalonzo said

Wiper Democratic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka adressing faithful at AIC Kyemutheke church in Mavoko, Machakos county on November 1, 2026.

Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has mourned Nation Media Group correspondent Mutua Kitavi as an exemplary journalist.

Addressing faithfuls at AIC Kyemutheke Church in Mavoko, Machakos County, on Sunday, Kalonzo said the deceased was working on his second autobiography before his demise.

He asked the congregation to observe a minute of silence in memory of the fallen scribe.

"He was more than a journalist. He was working on my second autobiography. He had done so much research. In fact, since I joined Parliament in 1985 up to now, everything that I ever said has been reported in the Nation. He did a lot. You can imagine the kind of loss I have endured at a personal level," he said.

Following Kitavi's death, Kalonzo urged county governments to stock hospitals with anti-venom to avert more deaths from snake bites.

"As we remember him, I want to suggest to county governments, please do something about snake venom. Kitavi's life could have been saved if there was anti-venom in Kitui town. We didn't have to lose him by transferring him to the national referral hospital only to lose him," Kalonzo said.

The former vice president said Kitavi died after a snake bite, and because of the distance between his village and Kitui town, by the time he was taken to Kitui, the venom had spread in his body. He was admitted to the ICU at Kenyatta National Hospital and died on October 30.

In national politics, Kalonzo declined requests by a section of politicians to join President William Ruto's administration.

The Wiper boss maintained he will not join the government, saying he was ready to meet Ruto on the ballot.

"We have said no. You don't expect Kalonzo to join a predators' government. It is not possible. We will meet on the ballot. I will be on the ballot. No, thank you very much," Kalonzo said.

He said the country needs gracious leadership.

"Let's begin to be sensitive and know that the time has changed. The time is calling for gracious leadership. Kenyans are suffering from the high cost of living and high taxation," Kalonzo said.

He urged the Kamba community to join other Kenyans in pushing for change in the country's leadership, adding that dualling of the Nairobi-Mombasa highway would be among his priorities if he ascends to power, owing to the hundreds of lives lost in road accidents.