On November 21, 2016, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka came out to defend the remarks he made when he differed with former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama.
In a exclusive interview with a local daily, Kalonzo said he was simply reminding Muthama that there was no need to pressurize other small parties to fold up in order to join Wiper as he sought for the nation’s top seat.
Muthama had asked Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana to fold up his Muungano Party to join Wiper or lose his seat.
The call for the folding up of the parties did not augur well with the governor.
“The bit that I talked about “kutolewa suruali” (being undressed) was in a very easy way. I said, Muthama you know if you come back to these people without my presidential flag bearership watakutoa suruali (they will undress you),” Kalonzo was quoted to had said.
The relationship between Kalonzo and Muthama became frosty when the latter accused the Wiper leader of micromanaging the party following the nomination of former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti to contest against Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua in 2017 polls.
Muthama felt former Deputy Governor Bernard Kiala was the rightful winner of the nominations.
The results were nullified before another nominations was called but Ndeti still beat Kiala.
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