It is hard to argue the former vice president will not be a liability to Mr Odinga. [Photo/ Court of Kalonzo Musyoka]
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is not likely to be of much help to NASA flag-bearer Raila Odinga in the upcoming rigorous campaigns for the presidency. The former vice president , who is running as Raila’s running mate for the second time — after the failed 2013 bid — has too many personal and domestic problems that seem to be distracting him. First, he has lost his strongest ‘soldiers’ in Wiper party. The first key leader to desert him was Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, who won the last elections on the Wiper ticket. Governor Mutua and his Maendeleo Chap Chap party members have endorsed President Uhuru Kenyatta for re-election. Kitui Senator David Musila recently quit his position as Wiper chairman after losing his attempt to win the party’s ticket as the governor of the county. Mr Musila has officially resigned from the party and is no longer a member. During a recent press conference, he accused party leader Kalonzo Musyoka of interfering in the nominations. Perhaps Mr Musyoka’s greatest pain is the departure of Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, who said he will not campaign for the party anywhere in Kenya. Muthama accused Musyoka of rigging in his preferred candidates during the recent Wiper primaries, claiming that Wavinya Ndeti, who recently won the Wiper ticket for the governor’s seat, did not win fairly against Bernard Kiala. The senator said he is considering not defending his seat in Machakos, because he could not work with either Governor Mutua or former MP Ndeti. The Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation, owned by the Wiper party leader, recently had its accounts frozen because of suspicion of money laundering. The foundation has still challenged the decision in court. Less than two months ago, more than 10 Wiper MPs went to see Deputy President William Ruto. During the meeting, they accused their party boss of letting the Kamba community down. They have since decamped to the Jubilee party. With only three months to the general election, Mr Musyoka seems to be running out of time to address his personal and Wiper political issues. It is hard to argue the former vice president will not be a liability to Mr Odinga.