Kalonzo Musyoka told to kick out Wiper ‘rebels’ for disrespecting him

A section of Wiper leaders is piling pressure on party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to kick out rebels for what they term as a scheme to embarrass him.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr is leading the onslaught against perceived party dissenters, who, he says, should be evicted to restore discipline and loyalty.

Last Sunday, Mutula led Machakos deputy governor Bernard Kiala, Machakos Woman Representative Susan Musyoka, National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze and Kibwezi East MP Jessicah Mbalu in castigating Governor Alfred Mutua and his retinue of perceived dissenters, saying the only way to deal with them was to expel them from the party.

Speaking during a fundraiser at Kithyoko AIC in Machakos County, graced by the Wiper leader, Mutula asked Kalonzo to stamp his authority, saying rebels were shaming him and the Kamba community.

“Nobody is indispensable within the party. Our party leader must be respected and we will protect him at whatever cost. The masqueraders who think they can replace him should not be given the privilege to abuse him as they wish,” said Mutula. The senator said it was sad for Governor Mutua and a section of nominated Wiper MCAs to ridicule Kalonzo in public under the guise of working with the Jubilee Government.

The absence of five Wiper nominated Machakos MCAs at the function irked the Senator, who called for their punishment “for showing contempt for the party and its leadership.” The nominated Wiper MCAs who are not here should take notice. It is time to deal with these rebels effectively. Why do we give them so much room to mock our party leader? We need to make a declaration as a community to rally behind Kalonzo because nobody can replace him,” Mutula said.

Wiper MCAs

The Machakos County Assembly has 10 nominated Wiper MCAs. But Mutua has convinced five of them, including embattled majority leader Joshua Mwinga, to join his side. The other five are allied to Senator Johnston Muthama who is a close ally of Kalonzo.

Mr Kiala, who survived an impeachment sanctioned by his boss, hit out at Mutua with metaphors likening him to a confused cockerel that crows at odd hours.

“The problems in Machakos are about naïve politics from inexperienced politicians. It will soon die down once the confused cockerel’s head is chopped off,” Kiala said.

The deputy governor sent a warning to junior officers in Machakos whom he said were engaging in politics and abusing the Wiper party leader, saying a severe punishment will be meted on them.

East Africa legislative Assembly Member Peter Mathuki likened Mutua’s overtures to those of a young boy clenching his fists to fight an adult person.

“When a truant boy clenches his fists to fight you, you have only one option; beat him the way you would beat his father,” Mathuki said while calling for Mutua’s punishment.

While addressing the gathering attended by MCAs from Makueni, Machakos and Kitui counties, Kalonzo called for the community to remain united, saying this was the only way it would be respected by others and galvanise its prospects to win the presidency in future.

The Wiper leader said he will soon visit Makueni County, which has been rocked by political upheavals.

He called for resignation of Makueni Speaker Stephen Ng’elu, saying he was the force behind the problems bedeviling the county. “Ng’elu is spoiling for the livelihoods of Makueni residents with his petty and selfish politics. He should quit,” said Kalonzo.

When Kalonzo stripped the Machakos and Makueni county majority leaders of their positions a month ago, party loyalists hailed the move saying it was the best way to restore order and discipline within the party.

Big fish

However, with the dissent still brewing, many now contend that it is time Kalonzo felled ‘a big fish’ to show that he is still in charge. Some like Kitui County professionals feel that the party leader should be decisive in dealing with Mutua and Mwingi North MP John Munuve who have openly defied the party.

Mutua, who has indicated his willingness to work with the Jubilee Government, says he will not engage in empty party politics whereas Munuve recently told The Standard on Sunday that he was not interested in “party dance”

“Hatutaki siasa ya njaa...tunataka siasa ya maendeleo, (we are only interested in politics of development)” Mutua said recently while rebuffing calls to show respect for his party.