Senator Johnstone Muthama told off on Wiper tickets plan

Senator Johnstone Muthama’s call on all Ukambani political aspirants to ditch other political parties for Wiper tickets has been opposed.

Mr Muthama, while addressing mourners in Kangundo constituency on Sunday, had urged all political leaders seeking to be elected in next year’s General Election to seek Wiper party ticket “in order to strengthen the party’s grip of the region”, and therefore boost the bargaining power of its leader Kalonzo Musyoka on the national platform.

But a section of politicians, among them Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, yesterday warned that the party had failed to build ‘internal democracy’ and cannot therefore be taken seriously.

“Muthama should stop lecturing us about joining Wiper because we all know the party lacks internal democracy and freedom of opinion,” Dr Munyaka told The Standard in an interview yesterday.

Call for democracy

An aspirant for Matungulu parliamentary seat Paul Muya also challenged Muthama and asked him to allow democracy to prevail within the party. Last week, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana (Muungano Party) also scoffed at calls by senators Muthama and David Musila (Kitui) to join the Wiper party ahead of the next General Election.

 At the same time, former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti, who is also the Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) party leader, has vowed not to dissolve her political party.

Other parties with influence in Ukambani include former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile’s TIP and former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu’s National Alliance Rainbow Coalition.