BY JOSEPH NDUNDA
The end of the power rivalry between former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and suspended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu is expected to change the political landscape of the Ukambani region where they command huge following.
The recent unity between the two has signaled new political realignments in the region ahead of the fast approaching 2017 general elections.
Supporters of the two former political foes, turned friends, who have had bitter exchanges in the past will have to eat a humble pie, reconcile and find unity under one political house the same way their leaders have done.
The unity of the two ends more than a decade of political contention that reached ugly proportions in September 2011, when Ngilu snubbed Kalonzo's hand at a public function.
A barrage of nasty words has defined their relationship and attempts by elders and church leaders to unite the two have always recorded unparalleled failure.
On Monday July 13, Ngilu went against the grain and turned her political artillery on the Jubilee government. He accused it of attempting to soil Kalonzo's name by alleging he grabbed 600 acres of National Youth Service land in Yatta.
Ngilu said the land Kalonzo is accused of grabbing belongs to the Kamba community, and accused the government of lack of sincerity in the onslaught against corruption.
Her scathing attacks on the government in defence of the Wiper party leader and Cord co-principal came a fortnight after the latter led two MPs – Daniel Maanzo (Mbooni) and Cecily Mbarire (Runyenjes) – and crowds of supporters to accompany her to court in solidarity.
This is seen by political observers as evidence that the two have already buried the hatchet, which has caught many of their supporters by surprise – but a move that has been warmly welcomed by professionals in the region.
“We must guard our unity. Kalonzo and Ngilu are the Kamba leaders and their personal transactions must be above board as public figures. Should they be greedy and petty in their personal and leadership dealings, they will consequently lose moral authority to lead the community,” said Kyalo Muinde, a high school teacher in Kitui.
Ngilu, who has challenged Kalonzo's leadership, is believed to have burned bridges with the government, and is now touted as a possible candidate for the Kitui gubernatorial race. The seat is held by Julius Malombe elected on a wiper party ticket.
“Mama Rainbow” as Ngilu is popularly known, is now being fronted as a possible candidate for Kitui governor in 2017 to replace Malombe, who elected leaders in the county blame for invisible development.
MPs Charles Nyamai (Kitui Rural), Francis Nyenze (Kitui West), Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South) and Mwingi Central's Joe Mutambu have turned their backs against the governor, who they accuse of involving himself in projects that are less likely to help the county's residents.
However, supporters of the governor accuse MPs of holding meetings in Nairobi and purporting to decide what is good for the residents, while Malombe holds public forum in villages for public participation as required by the public finance management Act.
This, they say, helps identify the areas that need quick fixing.
Malombe's association with Machakos governor Alfred Mutua in the past is likely to haunt him in future, as the community sees him as a 'traitor' and an associate of the Jubilee government.
If Ngilu ends up in the race for the gubernatorial seat, she will be running against Mutambu – who is also salivating for the same seat – and the incumbent who lacks political clout to defend the seat. Mutambu is a first time MP, and lacks political networks and persuasion among the electorate.
Another candidate mentioned in the race is Interior PS Monica Juma, who the community wants to take up the county executive's seat.
By selecting Juma, whose career is hanging in the balance after her rejection by the National Assembly for the slot of Secretary to the Cabinet last month, the community wants to send a message of defiance to the Jubilee government for what it termed as “perpetual disrespect” of the Kamba community in political circles.
Mutua, elected on Wiper party ticket, has shown perceived disloyalty to his party by openly supporting the government. He has been vocal in rejecting Okoa Kenya campaign pushed by Cord.
Mutua's critiques say he has used his PR skills to over-publicise little development. They also read the mischief in his defiance is believed to be leading the onslaught to dethrone Kalonzo from Kamba political seat of power.
Early this year, Kalonzo dared him and other defiant leaders in the region elected on the party's ticket to defect from, and seek mandate afresh on another party ticket.
If Mutua is elbowed out of the party, he is likely to lose the seat despite alleged development records, as party politics are likely to take centre stage.
This may be a blessing to former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti who emerged second after Mutua. Ndeti is likely to have a smooth ride, provided that she jumps ship into Wiper.
Jubilee is seen to be warming up to Mutua to be its pointman in the region following the anticipated exit of Ngilu from their house.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has visited Machakos three times since he was sworn in as President, more than he has toured Nyeri, Murang'a and Tharaka Nithi counties – his political backyard.
Mutua is believed to be the Jubilee's go-to in the Kamba community that predominantly voted for the opposition, and continued to oppose the government even after one of their prominent leaders, Ngilu, was picked for a Cabinet slot.
Ngilu was appointed Cabinet Secretary after ditching ODM on the day it was signing a pre-election agreement with Wiper to form the Coalition of Reforms and Democracy in December 2012.
In the past, Kalonzo and Ngilu have engaged in supremacy battles over control of Ukambani where the duo hails from, with each supporting a rival Presidential candidate, in the past three general elections.
In 2007, Ngilu supported Raila Odinga's ODM, while Kalonzo contested the Presidential seat on ODM-K ticket.
Kalonzo later allied himself with Mwai Kibaki's PNU, and was appointed Vice President in the grand coalition government where he was in constant power wrangles with Odinga.
In the March 4, 2013, general elections, Ngilu supported Kenyatta against Kalonzo, who was Odinga's running mate.
Ngilu who was Water Minister in the grand coalition government, a position she got through ODM, crossed over to Jubilee in December 2012 on perceived determination to advance rivalry against Kalonzo.
The Kamba community voted overwhelmingly for Cord. Ngilu's party won the Kitui Parliamentary seat held by Rachel Nyamai, and six ward representative seats. She was appointed CS in the Jubilee government. Two years later, Ngilu is being hounded out of the government on graft allegations.
Ngilu is credited for initiating development projects in the region that have endeared her to the electorate, despite propping a government they oppose.
The Umaa Dam, under construction in the outskirts of Kitui town, is one of the projects which once completed, will provide water to more than 50,000 households.
When she was the Water Minister in the grand coalition government, Ngilu also drilled many boreholes in parts of the semi-arid region, outshining Kalonzo in development credentials.
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