Kibwana dares Wiper to oust him from party, says he is ready for by-election
Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has dared Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) to expel him from the party over his differences with party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
The Governor said he would not be cowed by threats to remove him from the party and asked those planning the ouster to go ahead.
“Let them go on and remove me from the party. I am tired of the threats,” he said.
He added that he was ready to face the electorate if kicked out from the party and exuded confidence he would win resoundingly if a by-election was to be held.
“If Wiper party wants to expel me so that we can have snap elections, I will go back to the people of Makueni and ask for their votes and I'm sure I will clinch the seat without even campaigning,” he said.
Kibwana said the decision to defect to Wiper from Muungano in the 2017 elections was a push from Makueni residents to work with Kalonzo and consolidate his support in Ukambani.
“I am the only Wiper elected governor in Ukambani and it is really unfortunate that I am being mistreated though I had been warned prior to my defection,” he said.
Addressing the press in Wote, the Governor added that Wiper had lost grip in Ukambani and the party would be dead by 2022.
“Wiper is not that popular in Makueni and in 2022, people will know that there is nothing like Wiper in Ukambani,” he said.
Kibwana criticised Kalonzo for “having done nothing” for Ukambani for the many years he has been in leadership.
“Leaders are elected to serve people. But what has Wiper done? The party will not lead us anywhere and we will not continue staying in a party that does not help the people,” he said.
He told off Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo for defending Kalonzo, and asked him to let the party leader speak for himself.
“Maanzo should let Kalonzo speak for himself,” said the Governor, as he denied allegations he was working closely with Deputy President William Ruto.
Kibwana said he would vie for the presidency in 2022 despite opposition from some Wiper leaders in Ukambani.
“Anybody is free to vie for the presidency in 2022 including me, Kalonzo and Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Charity Ngilu (Kitui),” he said.
The governor said he would work with other like-minded people, including Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, who last week toured the county for two days.
The relationship between Kalonzo and Kibwana has deteriorated in the recent past with the latter accusing the former of a poor development record in Ukambani.
However, Kalonzo allies have accused Kibwana of being dishonest and rocking the party from within despite being the party’s chairperson; a position he has since quit and handed over to former minister Chirau Mwakwere.
-KNA
