When he was given the microphone to address his first political gathering after he was cleared to contest the Makueni Senate seat, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr appeared less than enthusiastic about the idea.
That was in Wote town on Saturday July 20, only six days to the by-election.
His critics were quick to draw a comparison between him and his younger sister Kethi Kilonzo, 36, who was the Wiper Democratic Movement choice candidate for the seat before the IEBC tribunal and the High Court blocked her bid.
And, in that comparison, Junior faired badly. But, perhaps, after absorbing the magnitude of his decision, the next four days of campaigning brought to the fore a different Mutula Jnr.
During that first public appearance in Wote, Mutula Jnr, 38, told residents that his opponents did not have an advantage over him just because they had campaigned for a longer period.
Speaking in Kiswahili, the youthful senator-elect said “Kutangulia sio kufika,” (starting a race first does not mean that one will finish ahead).
Asked if he would build on his sister’s popularity, Mutula Jnr replied: “I am riding on so many things. I am riding on the goodwill of Makueni voters, I am riding on myself, I am riding on the positive virtues that are responsible for nurturing me into acquiring the positive things that make life better”.
In the short period he traversed the county, Mutula Jnr managed to win over those who had doubted his ability. He spoke in fluent Kikamba, to the amazement of many.
“Some of them were in the Wiper party until recently; we need not treat them harshly, but to treat them as the biblical prodigal son,” he said while campaigning in Prof Philip Kaloki’s home town in Kibwezi region.
And, as the voting day drew nearer, so did his confidence grow. On July 24, the last day of campaigning, he told voters at Kathonzweni “this election has already been won; this is how you will be counting on July 26 the by-election date ... one vote Junior ... two votes Junior … three votes Junior … four votes Junior ... 10,000 votes ... 100,000 votes Junior … Junior … 150,000 votes for Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr ...”
“He walks like his late father; just look at his steps. You see Mutula Kilonzo Snr. See how he holds the microphone; he even speaks like his dad only that his father’s voice was deeper,” Machakos lawyer Joseph Mutinda said.
As a young advocate fresh from university, Mr Mutinda was employed by the late Senator Mutula in his Nairobi firm before he transferred him to his branch in Machakos town.
“Junior is slightly different from his dad; Mutula Senior was strict and stuck to his decision once his mind was made up. Junior is flexible; he listens to you and sometimes changes his mind,” Mr Mutinda said.
“His father was respected here in Makueni County, I am sure many voted for Mutula Jnr simply because he was his son,” he said.
“It is common to sympathise with grieving families, and Makueni was no different. It was only natural for voters here to elect Mutula Junior; people wanted to relate with the senator’s family and the best way was to vote for the son. By doing this, they had that comforting feeling that the departed soul would rest in peace,” said the MP who is serving his second term.
Mr Mutula Kilonzo Jnr received his law degree from Nagpur University in India. He also holds a diploma from the Kenya School of Law and is a managing partner of Kilonzo and Company Advocates.
On his website Mutula Jnr described himself as a husband, father, and an advocate who specialises in all areas of litigation, civil and criminal, a Rotarian, farmer, and a supporter of conservation of the environment.
“He called him Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, it was not just a name; there was more to it,” said Mzee John Kyelu Mbuva of Mbooni.
Speaking about his last moments with his dad a day before he died, Mutula Jnr believes that the last encounter was a premonition of what was going to happen on July 26.
“Son, I am going to the paradise (meaning Kwa Kyelu ranch) home at Maanzoni,” he said his father told him. “Always take charge of your situations.”
And exactly three months later, the son took his father’s words literally and went on to defeat some of his father’s opponents in a big way.
