Draft used to test political clout for 2012

Next Wednesday’s referendum on the proposed constitution in Kitui region will be a political contest between Water minister Charity Ngilu and Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo.

The two politicians’ suspicions and political differences stem from a possible realignment of constituency boundaries where they might face each other in 2012 if their electoral areas are merged.

Mrs Ngilu’s Ithookwe rural home is barely six kilometres away from Mr Kilonzo’s Nzambani village and both come from neighbouring wards of Kitui municipality.

The vote is seen as a “political dress rehearsal” for the 2012 General Election as a win by the ‘No’ camp will be a major political embarrassment to the minister.

Mrs Ngilu’s family driver is among supporters facing assault and theft charges in court over campaign violence in which Mr Kilonzo’s younger brother was beaten up and injured by rowdy ‘Yes’ supporters.

The fact that Mr Kilonzo’s brother was attacked as the minister watched from a distance of about 15 metres shows the extent of the political animosity.

The Mutito MP has brought to his side most civic leaders who by virtue of their close proximity to the electorate hold considerable sway in rural areas. This may tilt the vote in his favour.

Out of the 50 elected and nominated councillors from Kitui county and municipal councils, 42 are in Mr Kilonzo’s ‘No’ camp while Mrs Ngilu is supported by the remaining eight.

However, the minister has on her side MPs Isaac Muoki (Kitui South) and Charles Kilonzo (Kitui West) and a host of former legislators.

Mr Muoki predicts a convincing win by the ‘Yes’ side across Ukambani, saying voters are wary of Mr Kilonzo for having teamed up with retired President Moi to block reforms.

“People are aware that Kiema has joined hands with people who impoverished our region for many years and made the Kamba beggars,” Mr Muoki said in Kabati market in Kitui west.

In the same Ukambani, the referendum campaign has revived the political differences between Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and flamboyant politician John Harun Mwau.

Ironically the two politicians’ entered the referendum arena with mixed signals. It took critics a long time to understand where either stood.

News that Mr Musyoka was backing the ‘No’ camp with Higher Education minister William Ruto claiming at an Eldoret rally that he was passing Mr Musyoka’s greetings, convinced many that he was in the Red camp.

On his side, Mr Mwau kept a studious silence and his critics labelled him a “water melon”, a term to describe politicians who appeared to support ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ depending on circumstances.

But the VP has for the last month convinced his admirers and critics that he was indeed backing the proposed constitution. With campaigns for or against the proposed law getting hot, Mr Mwau remained a man missing in action, leaving critics to guess his moves until on Monday when he came out in the open to say he was backing ‘No’.

From their past political differences, critics say there was no way Mr Mwau could have backed the same horse as Mr Kalonzo. Three years ago, Mr Mwau offered to airlift 200 councillors from Ukambani on an all expenses paid trip to Dubai, a move that caused ripples within Mr Kalonzo’s camp.

The trip was quietly called off with the Mwau’s camp blaming the VP for scuttling it for political reasons. With Mr Mwau and Mr Kalonzo on the opposite sides, a new political grouping is in the offing in the region.

Mr Mwau has been courting Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo. Mr Mwau has also been talking to Makueni MP Peter Kiilu and at least three other MPs and a host of councillors in what pundits are describing as “run up talks to a new political bloc in the region”.