Caption: Kitui Governor Julius Malombe (left) and his Makueni counterpart Prof Kivutha Kibwana at Mulutu Catholic Parish in Kitui Central.
Kalonzo Musyoka’s effort to solidify the Kamba unity behind his presidential bid is on the brink of miscarriage after Prof Kivutha Kibwana threatened to bolt out of Wiper hardly two weeks after decamping from Muungano Party.
The Makueni Governor said he will be forced to return to his former party if a pre-election coalition pact signed between Wiper and Muungano backfires.
The pact has been met with resistance from a section of leaders affiliated to both parties, throwing a spanner in the works.
Speaking when he joined his Kitui counterpart Julius Malombe for a Sunday service at Mulutu Catholic Church in Kitui Central, Prof Kibwana claimed the officials were reluctant to ratify the proposed merger.
He consequently gave Wiper’s National Executive Council (NEC), which is set for a meet today to deliberate on the way forward, a 48-h0ur ultimatum to declare whether they are for or against it.
“I am not issuing threats but I will be forced return to Muungano Party in the event the officials fail to recognise and ratify the agreement,” announced Kibwana.
The deal was sealed in Makueni about a fortnight with a view to shoring up the Lower Eastern region and boosting Kalonzo Musyoka’s claim for the Nasa (National Super Alliance)’s presidential ticket.
Part of the agreement was to grant Kibwana a direct nomination to defend his seat on a Wiper ticket in the August polls but Wiper Party officials are yet to ratify that part.
The accord also guarantees a non-competitive affiliation between the two political entities such that Wiper would not field a candidate where Muungano has fronted theirs.
The governor attributed the delays to friction amongst Kalonzo’s allies demanding direct nominations as a prerequisite for admission of the coalition deal.
“I understand some officials are reluctant to approve the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Wiper and Muungano because they too want direct nominations.
“Others are intent on shooting down the deal simply out of selfish agendas or deliberate efforts to frustrate our efforts to unite Kambas for a noble cause behind Kalonzo,” he regretted.
Nonetheless, Prof Kibwana maintained that he and the people of Makueni County would fully support Kalonzo for presidency with or without the inter-party coalition deal.
“I wish to inform my boon friend Kalonzo Musyoka that we are keen to support him all the way come what may because we believe in his leadership,” the Governor emphasized.
Prof Kibwana as well said the prevailing infightings between Ukambani leaders over local politics, if unchecked, would dash Mr Musyoka’s chances to clinch the Nasa ticket to face off with President Uhuru Kenyatta in the polls.
He took a swipe at Senators David Musila (Kitui), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni) and Johnston Muthama (Machakos) allegedly trying to undermine Kalonzo.
He accused them of deliberate attempts to scuttle Mr Musyoka’s presidential bid by insinuating that he was planning to bolt out of Cord and go it alone to the ballot, as per recent media reports.
“It is wrong for leaders to go around lying that Kalonzo plans to abandon the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy and run for presidency on his party’s ticket,” said Prof Kibwana.
“Kalonzo has time and again made it clear that he is in Nasa to stay and Kenyans should not be made to believe otherwise,” he added.
He said it was ironical for a section of leaders from Kalonzo’s home-turf to allege full support for the Cord co-principal and at the same time stab him on the back.
On his part, Governor Malombe expressed his support for the Wiper-Muungano coalition agreement saying it was crucial forging a formidable support for the Wiper party leader back home.
Reacting to recent reports intimating that Musila, who is eying the governor’s seat, was set to ditch Wiper and vie on a different party, Dr Malombe challenged the senator to stay put so that the two can square it out at the nominations.
Musila, who is also Wiper Democratic Movement’s national chairman, last month differed sharply with Kalonzo after the latter endorsed Malombe for re-election while fully aware of his gubernatorial ambition.
The senator said it was undemocratic for the party leader to play favouritism and meddle with Kitui politics.
“He should stay out of Kitui politics and leave it to the people to elect their next governor without undue interference,” an incensed Musila told his boss.
The legislator is facing accusations of “defying his boss” but he has been unapologetic insisting that “nobody, not even Kalonzo Musyoka, will make me shelve my gubernatorial bid in favour of Malombe.