The Anchor October 2011: Kalonzo Vs Musyimi

Kalonzo: Will Mutava change

the game in Ukambani politics

 The entry of Gachako MP Mutava Musyimi in the race to State House is causing nightmares in the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s camp.

Although the VP’s aides dismiss his candidature as inconsequential, the truth of the matter is that Mutava’s candidature is causing much discomfort to the VP at the home front and has a substantial impact on the VP’s hold of Ukambani.

For Musyimi is no Jonnie come lately in the quest for the Presidency. He is the man who, in the run up to 1992, opposition leaders were proposing him as the alternative opposition candidate to face Retired President Daniel arap Moi.

When Mutava launched his bid in Nakuru, a section of ODM-K MPs from Ukambani were quick to dismiss him as a puppet of outside forces. The legislators claimed the Gachako MP was being used by Kalonzo’s opponents to spoil for him in his quest for State House.

Mutava’s entry will surely complicate issues for Kalonzo in Ukambani and around Upper Eastern area where the accomplished churchman is the elected MP for Gachoka.”The Kalonzo camp must prepare for a grueling battle with Mutava for votes in Ukambani and Eastern Province  as a whole”,said the Machakos County NARC chairman Davies Musau.

Musau said those underrating the Gachoka MP were mistaken because he is a goal getter and therefore a serious contender. The NARC chairman said Mutava is a man to watch in Ukambani saying his style  is different. “People expected the Gachoka MP to meet the old known politicians but he chose others including church leaders. He thinkning outside the box and this is very instructive, Mr Musau added.

Musyimi has since said his candidature is not meant to spoil for Vice President as claimed by a section of ODM-K MPs from the region.The MPs are expressing fears that are deeply shared by the Wiper party supremo.

He said his running for the presidency has nothing to do with Kalonzo or any other presidential aspirant, adding he is simply exercising his democratic rights.

“Iam not contesting for the presidency to spoil for anybody. People do not vie for elective positions to spoil for others”,he said at a meeting in Machakos.

Mutava said he is offering himself for the seat in order to give Kenyans a chance to elect a leader of their choice from the running contestants. Whether he likes it or not, Mutava has changed a political terminology-”Mwana Witu”(Our Son)- which refers to Kalonzo in local parlance. Now there is a reference to ‘Ana Maitu’- Our Sons, an indication that locals are seeing Mutava as having the credentials of an electable person.

He told a forum attended by opinion leaders from Machakos and Makueni Counties at the Machakos municipal social hall that votes belonged to Kenyans and were at liberty to decide who to elect as their president.

Mutava who has slowly been making visits in other parts of the country said  he believed in the new constitution and would wish to pursue an agenda that deals with issues concerning Kenyans of all shades..

Mutava is yet to name the party on whose ticket he would use to gunner for the top seat but quickly adds three political parties he did not name have already approached him to be their flag bearer.

The MP called for enhanced efforts in peace building to ensure national cohesion  ahead of the 2012 general election.

“We need to do a lot more in uniting and healing the country through the churches, mosques and the  civil society  in order to achieve this goal”,he advised.

Mutava  has promised to give the country a new lease of life if elected the president adding the country needed a manager who believes in the new constitution and has the interests of Kenyans at heart.