This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's planned tour of the Ukambani region has been marred by controversy, with a new squabble emerging just a day after he rescinded his decision to cancel the visit.
At the center of the latest controversy is Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who has accused Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka of not being development-conscious about the Lower Eastern region.
Kalonzo's visit to the Thwake Dam project site, which is a national government project, has been questioned by Kibwana, who claims it was hypocritical of the Wiper boss to try and portray himself as the man behind it.
According to Kibwana, Kalonzo's visit to the site was his first time, despite the project having been ongoing for months.
“For the first time @KalonzoOfficial has visited Thwake Dam ahead of the President’s Ukambani tour @StateHouseKenya Today he said he is John the Baptist. He is yet to visit any county project since his Wiper juniors say there is nothing in the counties. We hope to see change,” Kibwana said.
The latest controversy comes after President Kenyatta was forced to cancel his visit to the region at the last minute due to a supremacy battle between Kalonzo and the three governors from the area – Kibwana, Alfred Mutua (Machakos), and Charity Ngilu (Kitui).
