Kitui Governor Julius Malombe has denied he owes his
being elected on March 4, 2013 to Senator David Musila.
“Age is truly catching up with him. He is getting confused
and has resorted to telling lies. He blatantly lies that he goaded me to clinch
the Kitui governorship. On the contrary, I single-handedly popularised myself,”
Malombe said.
He was reacting to the 73-year-old’s repeatedly
public pronouncement that he regrets supporting Malombe’s election.
Speaking at an earlier rally at Kyulungwa in Mwingi Central and later at
Mutitu in Kitui East, Musila told residents he did not know the kind of
person the governor was when he rallied them to vote for him.
"I am sorry and I feel disappointed. Please accept my apologies and
let us move forward in a different direction," he said at Mutitu on
Monday last week. Musila, the Wiper chairman, has declared he
will take on Malombe for the governor's seat.
It is not clear whom between Malombe and Musila is favoured by Wiper
leader Kalonzo Musyoka. There is a feeling among
Malombe cronies that Musila may manipulate party primaries in his favour if he
remains chairman.
Speaking at Ikutha market in Kitui south on Friday, Malombe said: “You know very well that when I sought the governorship, I personally
introduced myself to you. I did not have any intermediary and you voted for me.”
Speaking during a fundsraiser at Nzakeme Secondary School on Saturday,
Malombe and former Kitui South MP Mwangu Ivuti urged Musila to retire from
elective politics. They said he should exit the leadership arena for younger
and able leaders.
“Since Nyiva Mwendwa (Kitui woman representative) who is younger than
Musila has opted to retire to pave way for young blood, he too should follow
suit. I have equally opted out of politics although I am much younger than
Musila,” Ivuti said.
