On 20 November 2018, Kalonzo Musyoka came under fire after remarks at his father’s funeral in Mwingi were read as a public surrender to Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp. The backlash focused on his own words, his new South Sudan role, and the way he handled allies and rivals at the burial.
The former Vice President had told mourners that he would not allow anyone to drive a wedge between him and Uhuru. He also praised the President’s attendance at the funeral, saying the visit had filled hotels in Mwingi and boosted local business. That line — “The death of my father has contributed to the growth of the economy in Mwingi” — angered many in attendance and viewers following the event on television.
Critics said the comments made Kalonzo look like a man chasing favour rather than protecting the dignity associated with the office of Vice President, a position he once held as part of the presidency. Some in Ukambani mocked his self-description as “mtu wa mkono” and “kunda ngutume,” terms used locally for a person sent on errands after being bought alcohol.
The funeral also became the stage for Kalonzo’s emerging role in South Sudan. He was being positioned as Uhuru’s envoy on peace-building in Juba, and the trip was said to have happened before he had received formal approval from IGAD in Addis Ababa. According to the account, he boarded the plane without the designation papers and had to be introduced by word of mouth to hosts who were left bemused.
There were also claims that Kalonzo had been lobbying for the Foreign Affairs docket, a move that would have put Foreign Affairs minister Monica Juma at risk. Juma, who comes from Kalonzo’s Mwingi area, was said to be uneasy about the new arrangement, especially because people in Kalonzo’s office were already complaining that she was undermining him. The report said Kalonzo had not yet received approval papers or job identification tags from IGAD more than a week after Uhuru announced the role.
Johnson Muthama was another casualty of the funeral politics. Kalonzo did not acknowledge him publicly, even though Muthama had reportedly contributed Sh300,000 to the funeral. By contrast, Uhuru gave Sh10 million and Deputy President William Ruto gave Sh2 million, among other donations. The event also drew 18 helicopters, one of which flew Muthama in.
Instead of giving Muthama a platform, Kalonzo invited James Orengo and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui to speak. He also acknowledged Wavinya Ndeti, which fuelled speculation about the closeness between them. The omission of Muthama was read by some as deliberate revenge, especially because he had repeatedly pushed Kalonzo toward political alliances Kalonzo did not want.
The article said that in 2013 Kalonzo was forced by circumstances to follow the Cord coalition with Muthama, even though he had preferred Uhuru. In 2017, he did not want to run for the presidency and wanted to go to Jubilee, but Muthama again pushed him toward NASA. That history, the report argued, explained why Kalonzo used the funeral to signal loyalty to Uhuru and distance himself from Muthama.
Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana later said Kalonzo should have described himself as a Uhuru adviser rather than a “kunda ngutume.” He added that Kamba voters had wanted Kalonzo to go to Jubilee in the last two elections. The report concluded that Kalonzo’s long delay in backing Jubilee had reduced his value to the party, because when Uhuru and William Ruto needed him most, he had turned them down.
