This archive report was first published on 16 January 2022.
January 16, 2022, marked a turning point in Kalonzo Musyoka's Ukambani politics. The Wiper Democratic Movement party leader, once the undisputed kingpin of the region, now finds himself struggling to maintain control.
With the General Election just seven months away, Kalonzo is faced with a difficult decision. He can either honor his pledge to run for president, support Raila Odinga, or defect to Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
On Saturday, Kalonzo convened a meeting at his Yatta farm in Machakos, bringing together local elected leaders, aspirants, and elders. The gathering has sparked intense speculation, with many wondering whether Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Charity Ngilu, and Alfred Mutua will attend.
"We are leaders from that region and I can tell you that there is no threat at all on Kalonzo and he does not need to prove anything," Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr. said ahead of the meeting.