The rivalry between Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Senator Johnson Muthama is not something new to their supporters.
Their recent rivalry shown at a funeral in Kalama, Machakos country during the burial of Mutua’s uncle has ruled out possibilities that the two leaders can ever work together now or in future.
Mutua and Muthama have not been seeing each other eye to eye since the 2013 general elections.
Prior to the 2013 elections, Muthama who is considered to be influential in the Machakos politics was against the candidature of Governor Mutua.
Ever since their respective election, Muthama and Mutua have been trading accusations against each other in public.
Senator Muthama has been accusing governor Mutua of being a ‘poor’ leader.
The senator claims that Mutua’s leadership is so poor that he relies on propaganda and Public Relations to survive.
The Machakos senator also claims that Mutua has failed to manage the county resources properly.
Muthama in a recent interview claimed that Mutua had failed to deliver services to the Machakos people.
The vocal senator has also been accusing the Machakos governor of working with President Uhuru Kenyatta despite being a member of the Wiper party.
“Governor Mutua is a betrayer because he chose to work with our opponents (Jubilee),” he said during a recent interview on Citizen TV.
On the other hand, governor Mutua has been accusing senator Muthama of being jealous of his development projects.
Mutua recently during the launch of the Maendeleo Chap Chap movement said that Muthama was among Kamba leaders who have failed to address the problems facing local’s despite being in government for many years.
Mutua claimed that Muthama and other opponents were afraid of his development agenda.
Governor Mutua has also been accusing senator Muthama of aiming to use the Machakos people to advance his interests.
The rivalry between the two wiper members is not likely to end soon.
The two leaders have been campaigning against each other ahead of the 2017 polls.
Recently Muthama cautioned locals against re-electing governor Mutua who he said has failed.
On the hand Mutua has cautioned locals against re-electing senator Muthama.
On Thursday, the two leaders who shared a podium during the burial of Mutua’s uncle in Machakos openly showed their rivalry with both declining invitation from each other to address mourners.
Analysts say that Muthama and Mutua’s rivalry will continue as the two battles out to become political kingpins in Ukambani region.