A fresh political confrontation looms between governors from Ukambani region and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka over the community’s stand on August 9 presidential elections.
The governors have vowed to boycott a meeting convened by Mr Musyoka this weekend to discuss his presidential bid saying the former vice president had failed the community and does not stand a chance of winning the elections alone.
Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua and his Makueni counterpart Kivutha Kibwana accused Mr Musyoka of planning to host the leader’s meeting at his Yatta farm instead of a neutral place where the community’s interests can be discussed freely.
The two said the Kamba community needs a fresh leadership more focused on developing the region and negotiating strongly for national resources and political stake in the country’s leadership.
“We’ve been elected by the people. How do we go to somebody’s home to discuss elections who has been undermining us all through?” Dr Mutua posed while addressing leaders drawn from Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties at the Machakos Convention Centre.
He dismissed Mr Musyoka’s Yatta meeting scheduled for Saturday as a New Year’s party for his Wiper loyalists which anyone with divergent opinion would be comfortable attending.
Dr Mutua, who accused Mr Musyoka of fomenting political wars in their counties, announced that they’ll rally the community towards a different political direction.
His Chief of Staff Mwengi Mutuse told the gathering that the former vice president had reached his political high point and that it was time the community charted a different route in leadership.
"Every idea has a timeline and expiry period. We should be understood when we say it's time for Kalonzo Musyoka to retire from politics and allow fresh leaders to take the mantle", said Mr Mutuse who is vying for Kibwezi west parliamentary seat.
Mr Mutuse urged ODM leader Raila Odinga to negotiate directly with the Ukambani governors for support.
They said that Mr Musyoka, who was his running mate in the previous two elections, had lost clout in the region.
His remarks followed similar sentiments from several leaders attending the meeting who warned the community cannot continue investing politically in Mr Musyoka and expect results different from what he has managed over the years in his quest for presidency.
"You cannot do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Kambas need a stronger voice at the national table to avoid being in the opposition again" said former cabinet minister Mutua Katuku.
Prof Kibwana gave a chronology of political events since his election in 2013 where Makueni County was on the brink of being dissolved after MCAs refused to pass his budgets saying that a pattern of hostile assembly was consistent with what Dr Mutua and Ms Charity Ngilu had endured over the years.
Governor Kibwana criticised Mr Musyoka for hoodwinking the community that anyone with a contrary political voice was a sellout to the Kambas saying any leader in Ukambani is free to contest the presidency.
"We've always been told whoever doesn't support him is betraying the Kamba cause. That amounts to stifling other voices because Kenya has not stopped being a democracy" said Prof Kibwana.
Governor Ngilu who was last week picked as among Mr Odinga’s presidential campaign board did not attend the meeting but sent apologies.
