The Supreme Court hearing and ruling on Governor Alfred Mutua’s election nullification will determine Wiper Party Kalonzo Musyoka’s political future, political analyst George Kithi has said.
According to Kithi, Kalonzo will be handed a political lifeline should the Supreme Court dismiss an appeal by Mutua and uphold the Court of Appeal ruling that ordered for a fresh gubernatorial poll in Machakos.
The analyst says that Kalonzo will then have an opportunity to redeem himself politically if he successfully campaigns and helps Wavinya Ndeti win the Machakos seat in case of a by-election.
He observes that Wavinya Ndeti's win in case of a by-election will catapult Kalonzo’s political dominance and authority in Machakos and the larger Ukambani region.
“Wavinya Ndeti holds the key to Kalonzo’s 2022 success should the Supreme Court dismisses Mutua’s appeal and orders for a fresh gubernatorial poll,” he said on Tuesday.
The analyst stated that Kalonzo will pour in everything to make sure he clinches the Machakos seat in a by-election.“The Machakos politics in some way will define Kalonzo’s next step,” he added.
Kithi, however, said that it will be a blow to Kalonzo’s 2022 presidential bid in case the Supreme Court upholds Governor Mutua’s election.
He said that Mutua will have automatically gained Ukambani's influence if he wins in the Supreme Court.
“It is a 50-50 chance for Mutua and Kalonzo and whoever wins or loses in the supreme will have made or broke his 2022 bid,” he said.
Both Kalonzo and Mutua have declared interest in the 202 presidential bid.
However, Mutua’s 2022 ambition is at risk basing on the Court of Appeal ruling that nullified his election.
The appellate court ruled that Mutua’s election was not free and fair and ordered the IEBC to conduct a fresh poll.
The Machakos governor has since appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court.
Political pundits opine that a by-election in Machakos will determine the 2022 journey for Kalonzo and governor Mutua.