Caption: Senator Muthama at a recent rally in Machakos town. Photo: James M/hivisasa.comMachakos Senator Johnstone Muthama appears to be walking alone in the political jungle over his position regarding Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s bid for the NASA presidential ticket.
Several Wiper party MPs allied to Kalonzo have formed a splinter group they refer to as ‘Wiper Express’ whose objective they say is to propel the interest of the party and their leader to ensure Kalonzo clinches the main opposition ticket as the presidential flag bearer.
The MPs, who include Patrick Makau (Mavoko), Susan Musyoka (Machakos County) Stephen Mule (Matungulu), Robert Mbui (Kathiani) and Peter Mathuki (East African Legislative Assembly), have accused Muthama of allegedly displaying open allegiance to ODM party leader Raila Odinga at the expense of Kalonzo.
The legislators further hold the position that Muthama’s inclusion and his subsequent role in the committee established by National Super Alliance (NASA) affiliate parties to pick the opposition’s presidential flag bearer, is suicidal to Kalonzo’s political career.
In separate interviews, Mathuki, Makau and Mbui described Muthama as ‘the enemy within’ claiming his ultimate motive is to weaken the party and its grassroots following in order to pave way for Raila’s bargain to fly the opposition’s flag in the race for the State House.
According to the Mavoko MP, Muthama appears to have formed an advance opinion that Kalonzo is politically inferior to Raila, going by his (Muthama’s) reference to Kalonzo at public gatherings.
“Muthama himself has been literally belittling Kalonzo by suggesting that Raila is the senior principal. We want to completely do away with the perception that Cord is not about Raila alone,” Makau told The Standard in an interview yesterday.
Makau also defended the decision by Kalonzo to bring on board his political archrival, Charity Ngilu, former Kathiani MP and Machakos gubernatorial aspirant, Wavinya Ndeti as well as Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana-a move that was fiercely criticized by Muthama at a recent political rally in Machakos town.
“By doing so, the party leader was trying to unify the community irrespective of the divergent political views by the leaders and we ask ourselves hard questions when Muthama fights against such a move,” said Makau.
At a recent rally in Machakos town which was also addressed by wiper party chairman and Kitui senator David Musila, Muthama sarcastically scoffed at the Wiper Express team, terming them as political novices and ‘agents of Jubilee Party’ in the region.
He denied claims that he had been advancing Raila’s interests at the expense of Kalonzo, but insisted it was wrong for Kalonzo to rope in Prof Kibwana and Ms Ndeti.
But Kathiani MP criticized Muthama’s sentiments and accused him of over engaging in politics of deceit. “It was the same Muthama who had all along been calling upon leaders of smaller parties to join Wiper, and after they do so, he is now the first person to fight them off”, said Mbui.
Mbui said there was need for the party to re-audit Muthama’s role in the ongoing NASA negotiations and to form an opinion as to whether he has been an asset or liability.
His sentiments were echoed by Mathuki who said ‘Wiper Express’ mandate is to ensure that Kalonzo become’s NASA’s choice for presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections.
“Wiper Express is unstoppable pressure group whose driving agenda is to ensure the party’s nominee for the NASA presidential ticket sails forth. And that is why we are reaching out to other party leaders in Ukambani to drive this common agenda,” said Mathuki.
Mathuki confirmed the team had convened a meeting of all leaders in Ukambani to chart the way forward with regard to the region’s political destiny. “We will hold a consultative meeting for all leaders in the region at Emali Tuesday next week where issues of the region’s political destiny will be deliberated,” he said.
But Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr dismissed the proponents of the outfit, warning that they risked dividing the community further. “Wiper Express is a phantom and will go nowhere. Most of them are interested in their re-election,” said Mutula Jnr.