Beware of Jubilee overtures, Evans Kidero and Alfred Mutua warned

By JAMES MBAKA and OSCAR OBONYO?

CORD has asked embattled Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to be ?cautious with the Jubilee government even as the coalition warned Machakos?County Governor Alfred Mutua against drifting to the ruling alliance.

“I am telling my good friends, Governor Kidero and Governor Mutua, please listen to street talk. The Jubilee leaders are saying that you are working with them, much as it may not be true. There is need to evaluate your actions,” said former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Most speakers touched on the two leaders, who have lately been accused of gravitating towards the Jubilee Government. Kidero and Mutua have hosted President Uhuru Kenyatta in their counties a couple of times.

The coalition asked Kidero, who was present, to realise suspect intentions of the Jubilee government alleging a scheme by the government to topple him from power.?“I want to tell you my friend Kidero even the cups of tea you have in?your office with those leaders (Jubilee) do not mean well for you. They?cannot be happy that CORD is in charge of a county that is the capital city and which controls over?60 per cent of the country’s GDP,” Mr?Musyoka.

The former VP, who is also the leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) asked?Governor Mutua to join efforts with his CORD colleagues to denounce overtures by the Jubilee administration. The governor recently claimed that CORD leader, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga cannot win an election against President Uhuru. (See related story on page 25).  

Mutua did not attend the meeting. But speaking to The Standard on Sunday on phone from Dubai, Mutua regretted his absence from the Kisumu meeting, which he described as “crucial for our side of the coalition”. “I am here in Dubai on official duty, kutafutia biashara watu wangu wa Machakos (to transact business deals for my County) and had hoped to return in time for the event, but unfortunately I am still stuck in this country and I have unfinished business,” he said.

Last year the President walked into Kidero’s City Hall?office over lunch hour where they had a cup of tea after attending a?function at the adjacent KICC grounds.

Raila said he had talked to Kidero and warned him that he should not?submit to the demand for Sh100 million compensation claims allegedly?being sought by Nairobi Women Representative Rachel Shebesh so that she can withdraw an assault case?against him in court.

“They are asking you to resign because you slapped her. That slap?is too expensive. I have personally talked to Kidero and told him not?to bend and pay the Sh100million demand, he should pursue the?case to conclusion and pay the penalty,” Raila said during the?meeting.?He claimed the assault case was an instigation of the Jubilee?government to intimidate and cow the governor to submission.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula warned Kidero that the cooking plot?within the Jubilee quarters was to force him out of office to allow?the installation of one who sings the status tune.

“My brother Kidero has affirmed that he is solidly in CORD but we want?to make him aware that the advances being toyed by Jubilee are out to?finish his rising political career,” Wetang’ula said.

The leaders were speaking in Kisumu where they co-chaired a CORD forum?consisting of governors, senators, and women representatives allied to?the coalition in a meeting to assess the performance of its counties.