Deputy President William Ruto and ODM boss Raila Odinga have launched parallel assaults on Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s political base, threatening to turn Ukambani region into a battle ground.
The two main protagonists in the 2022 presidential contest are in an all-out war to woo the 1.6 million Ukambani voters, nine months to the polls.
In their campaigns, they are likely to weaken Kalonzo’s grip on his own political bastion, a development that would throw the Wiper boss’ 2022 plans into jeopardy.
On Friday, Raila was in Makueni while Ruto traversed Kitui.
The former vice president, who is a partner in the fledgling One Kenya Alliance, is under pressure to reunite with Raila,as the future of the outfit remains uncertain.
Oka has largely remained passive. The principals launched their campaigns two weeks ago and then went quiet. They claim they'll come up with a presidential candidate.
Both Raila and Ruto appear to have won the hearts of some regional bigwigs and former Wiper stalwarts, leaving Kalonzo politically exposed.
On Friday, Raila was publicly endorsed by the three Ukambani governors during the Azimio La Umoja meeting of the Lower Eastern Economic Bloc in Wote, Makueni county.
Kalonzo was not present at the meeting, although some politicians said he was invited.
Ruto, on his side, also has a number of Ukambani leaders, including former Wiper financier and power broker Johnson Muthama.
At least four MPs from the region also support Ruto's hustler nation movement.
Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Charity Ngilu (Kitui) and Makueni’s Kivutha Kibwana on Friday led the region — in Kalonzo’s absence — to openly back Raila’s 2022 presidential ambitions.
“We the leaders drawn from the counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni have agreed to unite on the political path that unites the Kenyan nation. We have resolved that we will join hands with Raila Odinga for the 2022 elections,” the leaders said in the resolutions read by Mutua.
In his campaigns, however, Raila gave hints he is in talks with Kalonzo, passing along Kalonzo's greetings and saying they spoke on Thursday night about the Wote meeting.
Raila kept describing Kalonzo as "my friend" but did not say whether a deal was in the offing.
“The Kamba are good people. Even in 2007 when I was vying against Kalonzo, I received votes here. We then worked with Kalonzo in 2013 and 2017 and received overwhelming votes here. I want the Kamba people to be part of the Azimio La Umoja,” Raila said.
Governor Ngilu said she is ready to spearhead talks to have Kalonzo and ANC Boss Musalia Mudavadi support Raila.
“We must bring all leaders together, I want to see Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka, Alfred Mutua and Kivutha Kibwana at the same table and I offer to be the chair so that we work together,” she said.
Ngilu told the UKambani nation that the person who can redeem the country after Uhuru retires next year will be Raila, saying the ODM boss has a track record of championing the people’s interests.
“I now see a repeat exercise of what we have gone through before [unity in Narc]. Now Raila brings us together so that when President Uhuru Kenyatta leaves office next year, we have a person we have confidence in to lead this country,” Ngilu said.
I'm a presidential candidate like Mutua but we'll sit down, agree how to work for our country. On December 9 when you (Raila) hold that big meeting, we'll be there.
She urged Kibwana and Mutua to shelve their 2022 presidential ambitions in favour of Raila to ensure Ruto is defeated.
“Kibwana and Mutua, I know you have your ambitions but let us come together for the sake of Raila so he goes to State House. You are young and the future is there for you," she said.
When he rose to speak, Kibwana signalled they will hold talks with Raila in coming days with a view to agreeing on how to approach the general election.
“I am a presidential candidate like Mutua but I know we shall sit down together and agree how to work for our country. I know that on December 9 when you (Raila) will have that big meeting, we will be there,” Kibwana said.
Kibwana, who has previously held meetings with Raila, signalled that talks for a broad-based coalition are underway, saying nobody will be left out when that vehicle is forged.
He denied that there are plans by the governors to block Kalonzo from Raila.
“We are not competing against anybody in the region. We are not saying that so and so should not come to you, because if we did that, we would be immature," Kibwana said.
Mutua said the ODM boss should work with leaders who are determined to improve the people’s lives and not those indecisive about their political future.
“We will unite with Raila to ensure that we have accelerated development. It won't be more stories that do not bring any results. We shall form a coalition with Raila and move forward," Mutua said.
He went on, “He (Raila) is a humble person and speaks to everyone with respect. He respects a toilet cleaner like he talks with the President. The way to get results is to work with the three Ukambani governors.”
The move by the three governors to back Raila will boost his efforts to consolidate his support in the vast Ukambani region that backed his last two presidential bids.
As Raila was receiving overwhelming endorsement in Wote Makueni county, Ruto landed in the neighbouring county of Kitui as part of his charm offensive to woo the region to the hustler nation.
If we united, we will have power to form the next government that will help create jobs for these young people. People of Mutomo and Kitui South, are we agreeing we will work ?
The DP asked the region to rally behind his 2022 presidential bid, saying he is ready to negotiate with the region’s leaders to build a strong hustler nation movement for the next polls.
This was the fourth time in three weeks that Ruto visited Kitui. lifting the lid on the high political premium the two main presidential candidates are placing in the 1.6 million vote bloc.
"If we united, we will have the power to form the next government that will help create jobs for these young people. People of Mutomo and Kitui South, are we agreeing we will work together?” Ruto asked.
He went on, “Already in our national parliament, the UDA party has members from this area of Ukambani. At least 156 MPs have already agreed we come together under one party of hustlers called UDA.”
Ruto criticised the One Kenya Alliance of Kalonzo, saying it has no clear plan on how to address the myriad of challenges facing Kenyans, including the battered economy and joblessness.
“If someone doesn’t have plans on how they will transform your lives, don’t elect that person. Don’t vote through casework. You must vote knowing what you are voting for,” he said in Mutomo, Kitui.
He added, “The present and the future belongs to you. You are the people who’ll decide the next government.”
But Kalonzo has previously downplayed the forays by his rivals saying the region is firmly under his grip.
(Edited by V. Graham)
