Caption: A section of JP leaders led by former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile at a press briefing in Machakos, recently. PHOTO: Mutinda James.
The recent declaration by the Jubilee Party (JP) that it will field a gubernatorial candidate to face Dr Alfred Mutua in the race for the Machakos gubernatorial seat has triggered a new headache in Mutua’s camp.
JP, which is led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto announced recently that it will field candidates to contest in all electable positions not only in Machakos County but also in the entire lower Eastern region.
The party’s leadership within Machakos County recently held a press briefing at a Machakos hotel where several resolutions were anchored among them intensifying campaigns to woo a huge number of voters to ensure President Kenyatta retains power in the August 8, polls.
“Our main declaration here today is to reaffirm our strong resolve to rally behind Uhuru and Ruto by getting over 70% of our people to vote for JP, as well as to communicate the party’s decision to field candidates in all other available positions,” former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile told journalists.
Kalembe indicated plans were at an advanced stage to unveil the proposed JP candidate for the gubernatorial who is expected to fly the party’s flag in the tough political battle expected in the coming months.
So far, the seat has attracted former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti, deputy governor Bernard Kiala, East African Legislative Assembly MP Peter Mathuki and former Chief Officer in Machakos County Water docket, Lemi Muia.
Dr Mutua, who for a long time has been widely viewed as the man to beat in the race has also been urging residents to support President Kenyatta in the forthcoming general election.
The former Government Spokesman who is also the Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader, however, refused to dissolve his party and join JP when affiliate parties did so late last year.
UhuRuto, on the other hand, have also made it clear that political parties which failed to join JP at its inception cannot purport to claim political allegiance to UhuRuto team.
It is against this backdrop that JP politicians in Machakos settled on fronting a candidate, through a nomination process to become Mutua’s opponent in the contest. If that happens, political observers believe it could deal a big blow to Mutua’s ambitions to successfully defend his seat as Governor.
It would also mean Mutua will no longer feel free to cite the numerous development projects which have been initiated by the Jubilee Government as part of his campaign material that ‘he has brought development through his good relations with the national Government.
Another scenario that is believed to be causing Mutua sleepless nights is the probability of his archrival, Wavinya combining forces with Wiper party in the gubernatorial race. It has been rumored that the CCU party leader is poised to join Wiper party and become the gubernatorial candidate backed by a running mate that the party is yet to disclose.
Supporters of this theory argue that being the incumbent, Mutua still commands a substantial number of vote blocs and it would be virtually impossible to send Mutua home without such a ‘political collabo.’