Ukambani leaders at war ahead of Uhuru visit

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Ukambani next month risks turning acrimonious if it does not involve the entire leadership of the region, the Wiper Democratic Movement has warned.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr, a close ally of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, said it was divisive for President Kenyatta to have hosted a section of leaders from Ukambani and call it progress.

The visit of the Lower Eastern region, which has previously been postponed, is scheduled to start from June 10 to 13.

The President will kick off his tour in Machakos, then proceed to Kitui and conclude it in Makueni.

While in Kitui, he is scheduled to attend an inter-denominational church service.

On Tuesday, the President met 12 MPs from the region that is considered a Cord stronghold weeks after he hosted a delegation of about 10,000 people from the region at State House, Nairobi. 

But Mr Kilonzo Jr says that it is wrong for the President to talk to a section of MPs while leaving out the rest.

The senator said that in January last year, when the President visited Mtito Andei to inspect the construction of the standard gauge railway line, all leaders were invited.

“The President met all leaders then, so what has changed now? The memorandum we gave him is the one he is actualising with his upcoming visit. We are just reading on Facebook that he is coming,” Mr Kilonzo Jr said.

However, he said Wiper leaders will be present at every stop the President will make.

“I hope the situation does not replicate what happened in Mombasa when Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko exchanged bitter words in front of the President after the governor was sidelined.

If it is a development tour, why exclude other leaders?” he said.

NO GATEKEEPING
Early this month, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said he will be among the leaders to welcome the President.

“I will be here to welcome the President. We are not against development. Uhuru’s visit will serve to actualise the people’s constitutional right to development,” the Cord co-principal said.

Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao read mischief in the assertions by Mr Kilonzo.

“We met as MPs of Lower Eastern parliamentary group at a Nairobi hotel and discussed how we can meet the President for the purpose of development of our region.

Kilonzo knows that and he is only playing to the gallery,” he said.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, who has been working closely with Jubilee despite being elected on a Wiper ticket, said the ground has shifted and the people have decided to work with the government.

“Kambas are not used to being out of government and that’s why the President’s visit is hugely anticipated,” he said.

He said the Wiper party should not act as a gatekeeper.

“It is ridiculous to expect the President to consult political parties when visiting a region. The era of gatekeepers is long gone,” he said

Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi, who is among leaders who met President Kenyatta at State House on Tuesday, said the meeting was an initiative by MPs “and we are not interested in sideshows”.

He said that after the President and the MPs have delivered, members of county assemblies and governors will have to explain what they have done.

“We, as members of Lower Eastern parliamentary group, will have done our part on lobbying the President; others must show us what they have done,” he said.

NOT YOUR JOB!
Meanwhile, a row over the issuance of title deeds has driven a wedge between county and national government officials in Makueni County.

On Friday, a senior national government official stormed a meeting where the county government was issuing titles to residents and ordered, in vain, that the exercise be discontinued.

Mr Daniel Ndege, the Deputy County Commissioner in charge of Kilungu, later addressed residents gathered at Wautu trading centre in Kaiti constituency and complained that the county government was usurping a national government function.

“Issuance of land title deeds is a function of the national government but the county government is acting desperately to take credit for the exercise,” he said.

However, Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau defended the move, saying that the county government had brought the documents from the national government in order to assist the poor residents.

Additional reporting by Pius Maundu