By Kivutha Kibwana
LAST weekend, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka jumped the OKA negotiations to enthrone himself as the flag bearer. Before a gathering of predominantly some Lower Eastern Kenya residents, he declared that he will seek the presidency until the finishing tape. That declaration has all but put the last nail on OKA's coffin.
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| Prof Kibwana |
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| Kalonzo Musyoka |
Kalonzo was ostensibly also endorsed by the region's clergy, or so he said. It is however sad to note that the Ukambani Christian Leaders' Forum was not represented. The three key regional Elders' Councils were not in attendance. Both these two groups- clergy & elders- form the Akamba Leaders Forum (APEX). Last time they called him and other regional leaders to a meeting, he chose not to attend. SUPKEM was also not represented.
The vote basket of Ukambani stands between 1.6 million to 2 million and possibly with the diaspora vote and more votes from further voter registration the figure of 2.5 million is a real possibility. To win the presidency, one must get support from other regions whose total registered voters in 2017 stood at 19, 611, 423 million. For Kalonzo to appear to be a serious candidate, he must demonstrate that he will marshal huge nationwide support- which demonstration is neither here nor there.
The Kamba community
and other Kenyan communities are wiser now and will not be used by
individuals who merely want to capture a section of their communities in
the name of presidential candidature for subsequent auction. Normally, Kalonzo’s
real or perceived reach gravitates around his region. When he ventures out on
his own, the crowds are unfortunately lean.
Kalonzo has been riding on a myth currently created that he enjoys massive support in Lower Eastern Kenya as he did during the NASA times when many leaders from the region supported NASA. Further, due to continuous state support, the region had come to believe he is the gateway to national goodies. Recent by-elections in Kitui and Makueni have shown that Wiper is a weak party. Even in Machakos, a Wiper Senator won after the Chap Chap candidate was prevailed upon to stand down. His invincibility is being incrementally unmasked.
In the Yatta meeting Kalonzo claimed that three Ukambani governors stood on his shoulders to gain electoral positions! It is dumbfounding to imagine that he believes he is the sole voter in the region and the population of other 5 million voters is of no consequence. However, in 2013 I was elected under Muungano Party. In 2017 Governor Charity Ngilu was elected through NARC and Governor Alfred Mutua through Maendeleo Chap Chap even as Kalonzo fielded candidates in the two counties who actually rode on his shoulders. In 2017 Kalonzo had to plead with the people of Makueni to allow me to support Wiper and NASA. They called him for negotiations to a meeting at a place called Kambu, in Kibwezi East. In 2017 I helped NASA in Makueni to win decisively. Jubilee was not able to secure any seat as it did in Kalonzo’s Kitui and neighboring Machakos. As a negotiator I helped him to gain the Deputy President slot against Musalia Mudavadi, a gentleman and worthy presidential candidate. Kalonzo has not shown appreciation for the political work that people do for him. As a former chairman of his party, I stood in his place when he had to attend to his spouse’s treatment abroad.
Moreover, Kalonzo has over time antagonized key regional leaders such as Johnson Muthama, David Musila, Governor Mutua, Mutua Katuku, Mrs. Ngilu and myself. His casualties are many. In 2016 I helped to bring some leaders back to support NASA. Unfortunately, those who know him appreciate he is not a unifying, but a very divisive factor- whether in his region, OKA or elsewhere. In 2017 he used to say that the State could not accept Raila Odinga to win while he was his deputy.
Even before the Yatta meeting, Kalonzo told some of his inner circle whom we used to work together in the Think Tank that he will be a presidential candidate even if his community remains outside government for 20 years. Already 10 are gone. He hopes to create a Wiper ' Wave' in Ukambani so he can hoodwink the community and get MPs/ governors, MCAs to use to bargain for himself in the next dispensation.
Kalonzo's under-belly is that he cannot show tangible development to his credit from 1985 for almost FOUR DECADES of public service. Whenever this plain fact is mentioned, he goes livid just like his ardent supporters. Even as a Vice President there isn't much to show. On the whole he prefers to recruit leaders who don't question him, extreme loyalists. Since 2004 when Mzee Mulu Mutisya passed on and Kalonzo was informally declared as de facto leader of the community, the crop and quality of leadership has continually deteriorated. He has often been accused of annihilating visionary and development oriented political leaders as well as regional civil servants and key business people who have a capacity to stand up to him now or in the future. On the whole Kalonzo has been unwilling or incapable of LOBBYING for his community at national level. In most spheres, the community representation in the public space has deteriorated substantially.
At the Yatta meeting, Kalonzo talked of other presidential candidates having occasioned strife in the past and that he is the man of peace and true safe pair of hands. If in 2007 Kalonzo had supported Mzee Mwai Kibaki or Raila, there would have been a decisive win either way. We would most likely have avoided the blood bath. His "KUPITIA KATIKATI" policy became a very personal and expensive stance for the country.
Given that Kalonzo has done some diplomacy and peace work abroad, why is he unable to be a uniting factor in his region? Does he gain from a divided region?
In presenting himself as a presidential candidate who cannot win but may garner some votes from Lower Eastern, he wishes to attack a former Raila stronghold. If the strategy is successful, William Ruto stands to benefit. Knowingly or unknowingly Kalonzo would have helped a candidate he could later work with. I guess that is Kenyan politics of intrigue.
In Lower Eastern the residents have begun to understand who the real Kalonzo is. People are tired of being used and others dumped or reused. They believe his presidential bid may be a blessing in disguise. Although he said he is God's candidate, God may be planning to retire him from the region's political environment. The Bible says God's ways are truly mysterious.
Professor Kivutha Kibwana is the Governor of Makueni currently serving his second and last term.
