By Mutinda Mwanzia and Paul Mutua

An MP has dismissed Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s ambitions for the 2012 elections as premature.

Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, who also comes from the VP’s Ukambani stronghold, described Kalonzo as a political opportunist.

Mr Kilonzo said the VP was spending a lot of time scheming for the presidency instead of reconciling the nation.

"Mr Kalonzo should be ignored since he is up to no good. His record and political history is well-known," he said, on Tuesday.

He said the political alliances Kalonzo is mooting and his countrywide campaigns will flop.

"He is busy telling supporters to prepare for another political contest, yet the nation has not healed after the disputed 2007 presidential election," Kilonzo told The Standard.

He added: "His political actions and the fact he has failed to come out of the tribal cocoon, which forms his political base tells you much."

The MP said Kalonzo should instead use his position to foster unity and inspire development to help Kenyans end poverty.

Last week, Kalonzo sparked a political storm by claiming he was fronting for an alliance between the Kamba, Kalenjin and Kikuyu in readiness for the 2012 General Election.

The VP has also in the past one week, toured various parts of the country, drumming up support for PNU.

He has visited parts of Ukambani, Rift Valley, central Kenya, and is expected in Bungoma this weekend.

Similarly, Water Minister Charity Ngilu has urged the VP to focus on development matters. Others, including Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth, have echoed similar sentiments.

And despite all the criticism, Kalonzo has remained adamant, saying no one will curtail his ambitions.

He said his opponents engaging in mischief did not bother him.

The VP likened them to "cries of a frog, which do not prevent a cow from drinking water".

Hs said: "I will not be derailed by anything. Many anti-Kalonzo voices will emerge before 2012, but I will remain put."

He said some people had misconstrued his approach to politics as cowardice and urged the Kamba to support his presidential bid.

The VP spoke in his Mwingi North constituency, on Monday after distributing seeds and relief food from the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation.