Kalonzo and his dependable ally not in talking term, politically

Posted  Friday, February 8  2013 at  19:22

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Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and long time financier of his politics, former Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama, are not seeing eye to eye, politically speaking.

Inside Track has authoritatively learnt the two have agreed to disagree on Ukambani politics— a fight for supremacy that has spilled to Nairobi.

Although their friendship started souring up during the departure from G7 to ODM, the climax of their acrimony is the nomination of candidates in Makueni, Machakos and Nairobi counties.

In Machakos governor’s contest, Mr Musyoka (right) went straight and rooted for former Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua. In his regional arithmetic, Mr Muthama, the senatorial aspirant, picked former Mwala MP Mutua Katuku.

Although Mr Mutua won with a landslide Mr Muthama was “mad” at the VP’s outright sabotage of the former MP’s forays into Machakos.

In Makueni, Mr Musyoka’s favourite Senate candidate was Planning assistant Minister Gedion Ndambuki and not Mr Mutula Kilonzo. In fact, to edge Mr Kilonzo out of the Makueni race, the VP is said to have suggested that Mr Kilonzo contests the Nairobi senate and be supported by the Cord Alliance— the ODM /Wiper coalition. Mr Kilonzo showed the offer substantial contempt.

But it is in Nairobi where their rivalry has exploded. Two issues here. First, the Wiper/ ODM power sharing in Nairobi and the controversial nomination of a Wiper candidate for Nairobi governor, Mr Mutinda Kavemba.

Mr Musyoka has irked the Wiper supporters for failing to share out seats in Nairobi. According to the Kamba leaders’ proposal, Wiper was to zone seven out of the 17 parliamentary seats and 32 out of the 85 wards.

The agreement would be to have Wiper candidates here and leave the rest to ODM nominees. Among constituencies the Wiper team led by Mr Muthama wanted were Embakasi South, East and West, Dagoretti North, Starehe, Mathare and Makadara. Then the already campaigning Wiper candidate would be prevailed upon to be nominated as Cord Alliance’s running mate.

All these did not happen. ODM fielded their candidates in the Wiper constituencies and nominated Jonathan Mueke to be Evans Kidero’s running mate in governor race. Mr Mutinda was left out.

However, the matter would leave the VP in an awkward position. Mr Mutinda sued Wiper to be compelled to nominate him as its candidate. On this one, Mr Muthama sided with Mr Mutinda.

The complexity of the matter is that the party has a candidate against the pact it would provide a running mate to the ODM candidate.

And for all this muscle flexing to control the direction of the Kamba population, the old flame of friendship between the VP and Mr Muthama is almost being extinguished. They are not in talking terms.