Wiper renegade and Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu has told Senator David Musila that he does not need the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party to become the next governor of Kitui.
Mr Musila, a seasoned politician with an extensive background in administration, has declared his bid to dislodge Governor Julius Malombe from the office which Narc leader Charity Ngilu is also eying.
Addressing a public rally in Ukasi market last weekend, Mutambu said the prevailing differences between Musila, who is also the party’s national chairman, and the party leader bore no threat to his governorship ambitions.
The two Wiper bosses fell out a fortnight ago after the Cord co-principal openly campaigned for Malombe at Kwa Vonza centre to the chagrin of Musila who later accused Mr Musyoka of playing partisan politics and meddling in Kitui politics.
In remarks interpreted by many as attempts to have Musila back away from the governor’s race to pave way for Dr Malombe’s re-election, Musyoka advised the two to defend their seats in the impending polls to avoid creating intra-party rifts.
Musyoka had led a convoy of local leaders on a three-day series of road show campaigns to persuade residents of the three Ukambani counties of Machakos, Kitui and Makueni to register overwhelmingly in the ongoing mass voter listing drive.
But a vexed Musila defied his boss’s wish and declared that nobody, not even the former vice president would make him shelve his bid for Kitui’s top job.
Mr Musyoka has, however, denied reports indicating that he advised the two leaders to defend their seats, saying that he only told them to be careful not to divide the party in their quest for political offices.
“I have time and again assured all aspirants of free and fair primaries. It is also upon each aspirant to hunt for votes among the people of Kitui because I will not take sides with any candidate or impose them on the residents,” he said.
The unfortunate events made frosty the age-old amity enjoyed by the two senior politicians and there is a prospect Musila could be toying with the idea of looking for an alternative political vehicle as the polls approach.
Mr Mutambu said it was clear that Musila is the people’s favourite among the three gubernatorial candidates.
He also took a swipe at Kalonzo, accusing him of favouritism and termed “his interference in the governor’s race as undemocratic as well as a perfect recipe for trouble within his party.”
“I am confident that you will floor your rivals come August 8 elections regardless of whichever party ticket you will vie on,” he told Senator Musila.
“Long gone are the days when people elected leaders based on party affiliation rather than the policies the aspirants stood for. The electorate in Kitui want you to be their next governor and that is what matters most,” he added.
Mutambu is among the six elected leaders from Ukambani who defected from Wiper Party to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party citing frustrations from the party’s leadership.
Others include Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua and MPs John Munuve (Mwingi North), Richard Makenga (Kaiti), Regina Ndambuki (Kilome) and Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni).
Mr Musila, unlike Governor Malombe and Ms Ngilu, enjoys the concerted support of all the nine members of parliament from Kitui including Narc’s Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South) and Woman Rep Nyiva Nyamai, which complicates matters for his two rivals.