Political leaders from Ukambani snubbed an invitation by Machakos governor Alfred Mutua in Kitui in fear of political backlash from voters.
Mutua who of late has been gravitating towards Raila Odinga was attending the homecoming party of the newly-elected Mutonguni MCA Musee Mati in Tulia market, Kitui West constituency.
Mati won the seat on Maendeleo Chap Chap party headed by Mutua. The governor wanted to use the event to test waters after forming a political alliance with ODM during the just- concluded Kibra by-election.
Ngilu
In Kibra, the governor had teamed up with Kitui governor Charity Ngilu and Kivutha Kibwana of Makueni to drum up support for the ODM candidate Imran Okoth who eventually carried the day.
Kalonzo Musyoka’s decision to back Ford Kenya candidate Khamisi Butichi did not go down well with ODM which sought the support of the three governors in order for them to woo Kamba votes in the constituency. Kambas dominate Laini Saba ward but they did not vote because Kalonzo did not go to the ground to personally introduce Butichi. Laini Saba ward had been a preserve of Kamba councillors and MCA but in the last elections, they voted for a Luo in the spirit of Nasa. Kambas in the area blame Kalonzo for not never visiting his Laini Saba “bedroom” that has now been invaded.
Mutua who is out to wrestle the Kamba leadership from kingpin Kalonzo spent millions of shillings in ferrying locals to Kitui including offering a fat budget for leaders who promised to attend.
Nyamai
Out of the more than 50 leaders invited, only Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo showed up with the rest giving the event a wide berth. Apart from the MP who was elected as an independent candidate, the rest were MCAs elected on his Chap Chap party ticket from Machakos county who graced the event. Mutua, according to a source, wanted to send feelers in Kalonzo’s home county of Kitui but matters turned sour when leaders boycotted the event.
Munyaka
During the event, Mutua was crowned a Kamba elder, a move that was dismissed by Kamba Council of Elders who termed the event as a sham since those who crowned Mutua are not members of the council.
The Kamba Council of Elders is led by Sam Muumbi. The council termed those who crowned Mutua as imposters exploiting the governor’s desperation for power for his own selfish ends. The event was also attended by ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna who heaped praises on Mutua but at a fee. During his speech Mutua asked Kalonzo to pave way for young leaders like him, to spearhead the community interests but voters declared him a novice who cannot lead Kambas as a community.
Leaders were quick to point out that it is the same Kalonzo who picked him from government where he served as a mouthpiece and nurtured him to become Machakos governor.
Leaders who skipped from the event despite getting invitations included MPs Rachel Nyamai, Kitui South, Nimrod Mbai, Kitui East, Vincent Musyoka, Mwala, Victor Munyaka, Machakos Town and Ukambani ODM branch officials.
The leaders feared that by gracing the event, they would be antagonising Kalonzo who still has a huge following in the region compared to Mutua who has a following only in Machakos where he is serving as county boss.
Kalonzo is viewed as the one carrying the aspirations of Kambas at the national arena and any effort to undermine him has thrown many politicians in oblivion.
Although the governor has hinted at contesting the presidency, those close to him say he is positioning himself for a cabinet post after 2022 and is busy positioning his party for a deal with Raila. Raila on his side is using the governor to find a scapegoat now that he wants to betray the Nasa coalition agreement that he was to support Kalonzo come the coming elections. ODM has also failed to share with Wiper the political parties funds as stipulated in their coalition agreement prior to the last general elections.
Mutua on his side is believed to be using Raila to intervene and have the senate public accounts committee chaired by Moses Kajwang go slow on his case touching on loss of public funds in Machakos county.
It will be seen how he will navigate the murky political waters now that EACC is investigating the happenings in Machakos County with a aim of nailing top associates of the Governor over theft of public funds.
