Kibwana, Muthama vow to wipe Wiper out of Ukambani

The battle for the control of Ukambani votes has gone a notch higher with Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama launching a campaign targeting the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper party.

A series of meetings have been taking place at the senator’s home in Mua, Machakos, and have gained momentum in the last one month.

On Wednesday, Mr Muthama met with Kitui professionals who pledged allegiance to Deputy President William Ruto and renounced their support for Mr Musyoka.

Addressing the meeting on the phone, Prof Kibwana said the Kamba nation has had enough of the Wiper leadership.

“As a person, Kalonzo should pity Kambas and say ‘enough is enough and I am stepping aside so that you try another tact and change the direction of the bow’,” Governor Kibwana said.

Meeting with Ruto

This comes after a meeting with Dr Ruto in Karen, although Prof Kibwana denied joining the ‘'Hustler Nation'' movement. But he said he supports Mr Muthama’s attempt to change the politics of the region.

“We need to clean up the politics through change of leadership that has seen one person decide who will be elected, ending up frustrating those who are for development,” he said.

The governor said he was part of Wiper, together with former Kitui Senator David Musila, and that they have now been branded as rebels, hence the need to go to the grassroots and follow what Mr Muthama is spearheading.

“We are being intimidated for going against the party where they are now using police and EACC to frame us for corruption. We are ready, we fought for the constitution and we are ready for change,” the Makueni governor said.

He urged Mr Muthama not to relent in his push for change in the region, saying that he is the light they have been waiting for.

'Wiper no longer exists'

Speaking at the event, Mr Muthama said that Wiper was a party because of him and now “it is done and dusted”.

“You are afraid of a Wiper party which no longer exists as I was the party and I promised that once I leave, it will fall. You will not see that party again. I hear they are now changing the name,” he said.

He claimed that Wiper planned rallies from Konza to Kilifi, all the way to Embu, which backfired.

Mr Muthama said that Ukambani politics has changed and Mr Musyoka is now feeling the heat.

He added that they will form a political party and he will be its leader or deputy. Other than that, he will not accept any other position, he insisted.

“Kalonzo will be shocked because come 2022, I will have a political party on the ground that will field candidates from the presidency to ward reps. I want to prove him wrong,” said Mr Muthama.

“The party will be launched at Kasarani with delegates from the 47 counties,'' he added.

The meeting, which was attended by a section of Ukambani MPs including Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) and Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), condemned the violence witnessed in Kenol, Murang’a, last Sunday which left two people dead.