In the fog of Wiper politics, Kalonzo has a vision

A week ago, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka played host to Wiper Democratic Movement faithful in his Yatta farm in Machakos County and threw up a few surprises.

First, many expected him to declare intent for the presidency. He did not, but hinted he would run. Second, the gathering expected him to lay into Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua. He did not.

Third, Wiper faithful did not expect him to lend his support to embattled Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana. He did fervently; and then he said he would lay out the party machinery for Prof Kibwana should the county government be dissolved.

Mr Musyoka added: Wiper would deny dissenters tickets to run for re-election to the county’s assembly.

Fourth, the Wiper boss was not expected to contradict Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, a party grandee and financial backer.

He did by supporting Dr Mutua, against whom the senator publicly declared war only early this month. So, what is going on in Ukambani where Wiper holds sway or, put another way, what is Mr Musyoka planning?

What is going on is simple: One, Dr Mutua is believed to be physically in Wiper and, therefore, in the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

Spiritually, Dr Mutua is perceived to be in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) and, therefore, the governing Jubilee Coalition. Crucially, Dr Mutua is a popular governor.

IDEAS MAN MUTUA

Mr Musyoka had to choose between the hard-driving, quarrel-a-minute, brickbat-laden, oppose-authority-by-all-means approach of older money man Muthama and the deliver-the-basics-swiftly, give-people-hope, visit-invest-in-Machakos politics of opportunity of young media savvy Mutua. He chose ideas man Mutua over volatile money man Muthama.

Two, the chaos in Makueni County weighs heavily on Mr Musyoka’s shoulders. The county has a Muungano Party governor and a Wiper-dominated County Assembly.

Jubilee point men have been eyeing the assembly and the governorship, buoyed, no doubt, by the wide schism between Prof Kibwana and the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).

That the MCAs have been nakedly greedy is not in doubt; that they have made it impossible for the Governor, a consensus-builder and conflict-averse scholar, to work is indisputable.

That they have for the better part of two years held the county executive to ransom by delaying, derailing and frustrating executive budgets is a live fact.

The choice that faced Mr Musyoka, who had been impenetrably quiet as Wiper MCAs made a mockery of devolution, a star of the Constitution, was stark and clear: Either he sided with the rapacious greed and duplicity of the MCAs or with the law-guided approach of Prof Kibwana. He rightly chose the latter, which is closer to his own temperament and politics.

Hear him: “If you are elected on a Wiper ticket, you can’t deviate from the party position unless you are a crook. I am putting such people on notice. Your time is up.” Sitting MCAs in Makueni and Machakos must now either bite the bullet and back Prof Kibwana (of Muungano) and Dr Mutua or run against Ukambani’s foremost political force and leader.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

Three, Mr Musyoka drove home the point that charity begins at home and as Wiper prepares for the next General Election, it must start by putting its Ukambani house in order.

He let fishing Jubilee know that Ukambani is Wiper pond and that he is Wiper boss. And, Mr Musyoka declared, he had begun the journey of liberating Kenya from tribalism and corruption.

Unsurprisingly, speakers now urged him to declare there and then for the presidency. Surprisingly, Mr Musyoka went back to familiar territory.

He prevaricated. He said he could not declare his candidature on a farm. Come on, sir, Kenya is a farmer’s country. Hey, Kenya’s economy is agriculture-anchored and small scale farmers feed big Kenya.

Listen, chief, Nairobi works and produces two thirds of Kenya’s GDP because its neighbours of Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado farm and sell their produce in Nairobi. So, why did Mr Musyoka prevaricate on the big question when his Cord co-principals, Mr Raila Odinga and Mr Moses Wetang’ula, have declared interest in the top seat? Only the following are clear: One, by embracing Dr Mutua and Prof Kibwana, Mr Musyoka has recast himself as a dove and recanted the hawkish hue associated with Mr Muthama. Two, he wants a run for the presidency.

Three, there is no vacancy for him at Jubilee but hope — because the coalition is fishing, determined to win over those regions which eluded it in 2013 ahead of 2017.

Finally, pressure is on Cord to make up its mind about its 2017 presidential flagbearer.

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