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Governor Dr Alfred Mutua was moved to tears at the Machakos Peoples’ Park on August 28 after telling how his bid to unchain Kambas from poverty was being scuttled by ‘merchants of poverty’, read poor leadership.
But Mutua’s ‘Maendeleo Chap Chap’ initiatives and his rising political star have created the impression that he was grooming himself to be the poster boy of Ukambani politics in what is seen as a supremacy battle with Wiper Party leader and former Veep, Kalonzo Musyoka whose supporters compare Dr Mutua with grass fire whose flames need not be extinguished as they die on their own.
The ‘Mutua tears’ have been received with mixed reactions by different quarters. Speaking during the homecoming party for Athi Ward MCA Peter Kilonzo, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama promised Dr Mutua a political nightmare and advised him to save his tears for 2017, when there will be ‘wailing and gnashing of teeth.’
“Mutua was a government spokesman for 10 years, where he even denied that Kenyans were dying of hunger. To cry today because Ukambani is not developed is hypocrisy,” charged Muthama, adding: “We don’t know your home, establish one and let us bless you there, we can’t bless you while you are hovering on air like an eagle.”
On his part, Kalonzo likened Mutua to a bat that had taken refuge on a baobab tree but after eating mosquitoes to its fill, had resorted to defecating on its host while issuing threats to the tree to hold firm as it prepared to take off. “The baobab told the bat, I did not notice your coming and so will be your departure.”
However, despite the heat, Dr Mutua vows to soldier on with his ‘rescue mission’ and dismisses his opponents as merchants of retrogressive politics that perpetuate poverty.
“It is shocking that these leaders only aspire to become tribal kingpins of poor people. They do not want prosperity for our region, yet some have served in high positions for decades,” Mutua says, in an indirect jibe at Kalonzo.
We have not endorsed Mutua- Akamba Council of Elders
Coming to Dr Mutua’s support was Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka who pointed out: “Kalonzo and Muthama have outlived their political careers and should leave it to the new generation. Mutua and other youthful leaders are capable of providing a dignified livelihood for the people who have suffered for decades as a result of poor leadership.” The Akamba Council of Elders has denied that it endorsed Dr Alfred Mutua as reported by a section of the media. The council chairman Boniface Kilonzo clarified that Mutua sneaked into their meeting at Masii Boys uninvited and begged to address the gathering. “He talked of his ‘Maendeleo Chap Chap’ initiative and promised to feed those in attendance and gave them bus fare. That cannot be said to be an endorsement,” said Kilonzo.
-Additional reporting by John Muia
