Wiper leader Kalonzo faults Muthama for ‘2013 loss’
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama of breaking the G7 alliance, which he believes could have propelled him to the presidency in 2013 elections.
The alliance brought together The National Alliance (TNA) leader Uhuru Kenyatta and United Republican Party (URP) boss William Ruto. TNA and URP later merged to form Jubilee Party with other affiliates.
Kalonzo was forced to bolt out of the grouping after Uhuru and Ruto declined to close ranks and support him as the presidential candidate.
Now Kalonzo claims that utterances by Muthama at a rally in Machakos about Uhuru-Ruto cases at the International Criminal Court led to the collapse of the group.
Muthama, who two months ago announced resignation from Wiper , dismissed Kalonzo’s presidential campaign as non-starter and threw his weight behind Ruto.
On the other hand, Kalonzo has accused Muthama of “auctioning “ him twice to back ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Shifting loyalty
“His utterances during the final G7 alliance rally at Machakos led to its ultimate breakdown.
His speech as translated to Uhuru and Ruto was that ‘I will take over the country’s leadership, once the two are jailed at The Hague. Is this what you call negotiation? No way?” Kalonzo said.
The two were cleared of crimes against humanity at The Hague.
The Wiper leader was responding to Muthama’s recent comments that he (Muthama) had negotiated the vice presidency for him (Kalonzo) after the disputed 2007 General Election.
Then President Mwai Kibaki appointed Kalonzo as Vice President (VP) in the shared Grand Coalition Government with Raila as Prime Minister.
“Muthama is exercising his democratic right by shifting loyalty to the Deputy President (DP), but I want to assure you that Wiper will form the next government,” Kalonzo said.
“Someone remind Kalonzo that if it was not for Muthama, he would not have been a VP and therefore, he should learn to appreciate.
He said I auctioned him to Raila, yes that is true man, if I can give a political direction to a whole VP,” said Muthama.
While decamping from the G7 in 2012, Kalonzo said he walked away from further talks over what he described as “mistreatment” by the two party leaders.
He said the pre-election alliance talks hit a snag after they failed to cede ground on who would be the presidential flag bearer.
He said he was not happy with being treated as a “junior” partner.
According to Kalonzo, they had agreed that he runs for presidency, with Uhuru as his running mate while Ruto was to be the majority leader.
“I rejected the offer by the two, I would only accept a position of either running mate or above, short of that there was no compromise,” he said then.
But Muthama claims that he came to Kalonzo’s rescue by brokering a deal with Raila after the G7 leaders walked away from him.
The continued spat between the two comes amid a vicious battle for Ukambani vote pitting Kalonzo against three governors from the region and another group led by Muthama, that has been pitching for Ruto.
Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Kivutha Kibwana ( Makueni) who are at loggerheads with Kalonzo have declared intention to vie for the presidency.
Mutua who was last week elected South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc chairman has met several delegations from different parts of the country including Baringo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kamba elders.
Energetic leader
On Saturday, Mutua hosted Kamba professionals and business community at Matuu County Lodge.
“Kenyans want a fresh leader who has a development and economic empowerment track record.
They want a leader who is energetic enough to manage the affairs of the State. They are tired of the same old names, that is why I am confident of victory,” Mutua said at a past function.
And in what seems to be a calculated scheme to tame Kalonzo, the two governors were hosted by their Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu at a breakfast meeting at her home, before joining Christian faithful’s during inauguration of the new Kitui Catholic Bishop Joseph Mwongela at St Charles Lwanga.
Mutua told the People Daily that he has a national approach to his 2022 presidential ambition saying that presidency has no room for tribal lords.
Hustler nation
“It is very clear that people want a new face of a leader who cares about their welfare and not a tribal lord.
It is very unfortunate to see our competitors only clinging on past tribal support.
They want to be accommodated by others, that is why in 2020, I will be seeking presidency and I will accommodate others like Kalonzo, Kibwana among others,” said Mutua.
Ngilu has consistently painted Kalonzo as a politician without an agenda and has nothing to show since 1985 when he was elected MP through a by-election.
Muthama and his troops, MPs: Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town), Fabian Muli (Kangundo), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) and Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) have embarked on a campaign across Ukambani in support of the DP.
Last week, Mbai hosted Munyaka, Musyoka and Muli in Mutitu during an event that saw elderly women get roofing iron sheets said to have been donated by Ruto.
“I have been consulting with my people and also giving them my opinion on which way to go come 2022 and we are now decided to be part of the hustler nation.
We are hustlers and peasants and we will stand with the son of a peasant farmer -Ruto,” said Mbai.
