Kalonzo writing a book to tell his political story

Former VP writing book to tell his 28-year political story

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By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, August 3  2013 at  23:30

After a 28-year political career laced with reasonable executive authority, former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is now writing a book.

The Wiper Democratic Movement leader’s memoirs is expected to share the untold stories of his political life that started in 1983 when he won the Kitui North parliamentary seat in a by-election after losing in a similar contest two years earlier.

“I am busy right now; I am not idle. I am writing my book and I intend to have it published soon. I am also preoccupied with a lot of things at the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation as well as my law firm. Actually my hands are full,” said the Cord presidential running mate in the March 4 elections.

Last time Kenyans read about him in a book, Mr Musyoka was under attack from a former confidant Joe Khamis in his book, ThePolitics of Betrayal.

Although Mr Musyoka said he is not planning to go back to court to litigate as a lawyer, he plans to undertake consultancy jobs to rekindle his law career that has been on a break since he joined politics.

“I don’t intend to go back to court but very soon I will be undertaking consultancies and charging fees for it. I have been renewing my practising certificate annually,” the former VP said.

Mr Musyoka, whose political life has been a straight record, has lost elections only twice, the first time during his debut for the Kitui North seat and in the last General Election.

Appointed VP

In 2007 when he lost the Presidential elections, he retained his seat as Mwingi North MP and was shortly after appointed Vice-President by President Mwai Kibaki.

When we visited the former VP at his Karen home on Saturday morning, we found him recovering from flu. The home was quiet safe for a few people who were visiting.

His wife Pauline, a career civil servant, served us breakfast before we proceeded with our interview.

On how he runs his political diary, he says: “You know we only have four years to go before we can have another election so I am also engaged in trying to revitalise my party Wiper and Cord. I also keep in touch with our MPs, Senators and Governors.”

Through his foundation, the former VP is engaged in offering scholarships to secondary and university students besides engaging investors interested in local businesses.

“We want to engage investors of course through the government institutions to ensure that we do not lose opportunities to grow our country,” he said.

Keen to reinvigorate himself, the former VP is fast rebranding and learning the ropes as an opposition politician outside Parliament.

Although it is still unclear whether Mr Musyoka will run in the next presidential elections, he is reaching out to the electorate to remain relevant.

On Saturday, Mr Musyoka’s political adviser, Benji Ndolo, said that the Wiper leader will take his time to reorganise before the elections.
“He is not in a hurry but he is taking his time to reorganise and to rebrand before he can take any other decision,” Mr Ndolo said.