This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
Published on December 28, 2019, the rift between Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his longtime confidant Johnstone Muthama has divided opinion in Ukambani, with party supporters adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
Wiper Party's leadership crisis has been a subject of debate in Ukambani, with governors warning that the constant political wrangles are a manifestation of poor leadership that needs to be cured through a change of guard in the community.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua faulted both Musyoka and Muthama for their respective positions regarding the 2022 succession, saying the Kamba community will not be available to the highest bidder.
'The assertion by Musyoka that he will follow the political direction given by President Uhuru Kenyatta means that he has resigned himself to the fate that he is not capable of securing the vote of Kenyans to be the next President and can only be a supporter of another person,' Dr Mutua said.
He warned that the push by Muthama to craft an alliance with Deputy President William Ruto would similarly reduce the Kamba voters to just supporters of others, instead of going for the top seat.
On the other hand, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana lamented that the state of Ukambani politics had become the laughing stock in the country.
'Ukambani politics have become a Tower of Babel where leaders seem rudderless and are pulling towards different directions,' Prof Kibwana said.
He warned that the actions of Wiper leaders could easily isolate the Kamba community from the rest of Kenya if the constant wrangling isn't checked.
