Kethi Kilonzo exit from Makueni race stirs voter apathy

By ONESMUS NZIOKA

Kenya: The Makueni Senate by-election scheduled for July 22 faces voter apathy after Kethi Kilonzo’s withdrawal from the contest.

Residents said Kethi’s exit from the race had killed their hopes of getting a better representative as they were banking on her to carry on her late father’s development agenda.

“The people of Makueni had unanimously decided to rally behind Kethi Kilonzo because she is the person who carries our hope of better representation in the Senate. We want to make it clear that even if she is not on the ballot, she is the person we will vote for,” said Kyalo Musyoki, a resident of Wote town.

“We still feel there is hope of her contesting the seat after her stepmother’s withdrawal and hope Wiper party will be able to convince her to do so for the sake of Makueni residents,” said another resident, Margaret Mulwa.

Kethi’s decision was triggered by her stepmother’s entry into the race in a bid to avoid family competition. She said it was a curse to compete with her mother.

Her exit was, however, met with disdain by residents who said they still hope Kethi would rescind her decision and contest the seat.

Similarly, Makueni county assembly representatives said the Wiper party that had identified Kethi as its ticket bearer stands to lose the seat to Jubilee unless they convince Kethi to reconsider her decision.

“Wiper will definitely lose this seat if Kethi is not in the race. Unless a miracle happens, the seat is headed Jubilee way because only Kethi can land it to Wiper,” said Mavindini County Representative Martin Mulwa.

Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao promised to meet the family in an effort to reconcile the mother and daughter, and have one of them support the other.

“We cannot afford to see the family of the late Mutula divided as a result of politics as this would lead to its disintegration. I will prevail upon them to allow one of them stand,” he told The Standard on telephone.

When contacted for comment, Machakos County Senator Johnstone Muthama simply said in Kikamba: “kwa twikomania Makueni Wathanthatu wiw’e uvoo”. (Let us meet in Makueni on Saturday and you will get the story).