Row erupts over Jubilee point man in Ukambani

President Uhuru Kenyatta meets with leaders from the lower eastern region at State House, Nairobi, last week. Political wrangling has erupted between some perceived Wiper Party rebel MPs and Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua after last Tuesday’s State House visit by Ukambani leaders hosted by President Kenyatta. PHOTO | PSCU

What you need to know:

  • Political wrangling has erupted between some perceived Wiper Party rebel MPs and Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua after last Tuesday’s State House visit of Ukambani leaders hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
  • The disagreements exposed intense infighting and political jostling among the Wiper rebels over who becomes the Jubilee coalition’s pointman in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties ahead of next year’s General Election.
  • With an eye on the 2017 elections, Dr Mutua and MPs Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central) and Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni) are seen to be jostling to position themselves to substitute Mrs Charity Ngilu in Jubilee.
  • Mrs Ngilu, who was sacked as Lands Cabinet Secretary last year over corruption allegations, was a Jubilee regional lynchpin in the last election but her political future in the ruling coalition remains unclear. 

Political wrangling has erupted between some perceived Wiper Party rebel MPs and Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua after last Tuesday’s State House visit of Ukambani leaders hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The disagreements exposed intense infighting and political jostling among the Wiper rebels over who becomes the Jubilee coalition’s point man in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties ahead of next year’s General Election.

With an eye on the 2017 elections, Dr Mutua and MPs Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central) and Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni) are seen to be jostling to position themselves to substitute Charity Ngilu in Jubilee.

Mrs Ngilu, who was sacked as Land Cabinet secretary last year over corruption allegations, was a Jubilee regional lynchpin in the last election but her political future in the ruling coalition remains unclear. 

By virtue of her Narc party being a coalition partner with President Kenyatta’s TNA and his deputy William Ruto’s URP, Mrs Ngilu was the undisputed leading Jubilee voice in the region.

Those privy to the infighting, who spoke in confidence for fear of antagonising their political allies, told the Sunday Nation the MPs are unhappy that Dr Mutua tried to fashion the meeting as a “defection ceremony”, contrary to their agenda, by imposing himself as the leader of the delegation yet he was not part of the entire planning.

MUTUA 'GATE-CRASHING'

In separate interviews with the Sunday Nation, it was evident that in leading the delegation to State House, the rebel Wiper leaders wanted to make an unequivocal statement that they will now be in charge of Jubilee affairs in Ukambani.

Mr Mutambu and Mr Munyao said the Machakos governor was out of the country when they planned the meeting, which involved massive mobilisation across the three counties, but he decided to cut short his trip and return to attend the meeting.

“We were shocked to see Dr Mutua gate-crashing that morning and taking over and imposing himself as our kingpin,” Mr Munyao said.

“We feel disrespected because it was our initiative; we planned for one month and our agenda was purely development in Ukambani region but not defection of MPs or Maendeleo Chap Chap,” said Mr Mutambu.

Dr Mutua said the “personal agenda” of the two MPs and their motive was suspect.

“There were 11 MPs, 105 MCAs and 10,000 community leaders and professionals at State House. Out of all these, only two MPs are grumbling because they had a personal and not the development agenda and political freedom that the rest of us had,” Governor Mutua said.

It is understood that President Kenyatta made it clear that he was not interested in brokers but solid leaders who represented the people and are focused on economic development.