Former Machakos MCAs on Tuesday condemned senior politicians for turning the county's Senate by-election campaigns into a supremacy battle over the 2022 presidential race.
Led by former Athi River MCA Mutua Mutuku, the ex-county legislators—numbering at least 30—said the electorate should not be divided along party lines and 2022 presidential candidates.
They expressed concern that Wiper and United Democratic Alliance leaders are campaigning for their presidential candidates instead of senatorial candidates. The by-election is set for March 18.
They spoke at a joint press briefing at Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) offices in Machakos town on Tuesday. MCC candidate Mutua Katuku urged non-natives to stop meddling in the campaigns and instead allow voters to elect their preferred candidate without any unnecessary threats or victimisation. He said residents are not interested in 2022 politics.
Eleven candidates were cleared by the IEBC to contest for the position after it was declared vacant following the death of Senator Boniface Kabaka.
CCU candidate Lillian Nduku, however, stepped down in Katuku’s favour barely two weeks after she was cleared by the IEBC, reducing the number to 10.
Katuku dismissed those engaging in 2022 politics as selfish individuals, warning them against disrespecting residents. He said people from outside the county should not engage in the Machakos by-election campaigns, adding that even in 2022, the county already has its own presidential candidate—Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader Alfred Mutua, who is also area governor.
Several politicians across the country, including party leaders Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) and Kanu's Gideon Moi, have visited Machakos to drum up support for Wiper candidate Agnes Kavindu.
“We can’t accept to be dictated by either Kitui or Makueni counties. Kitui people have their own government led by Governor Charity Ngilu. We, the people of Machakos, have our own government led by Governor Alfred Mutua and Makueni people have their government led by Governor Kivutha Kibwana. Let us be respected as Machakos people, we should be left to organise ourselves as we want.
"We, as people of Machakos, shouldn’t be brought people from Sugoi, Mwingi, Makueni or elsewhere, we, ourselves, should decide on who is the best candidate for the presidency in 2022,” Katuku said.
