Political temperatures in Ukambani are set to rise following the excitement sparked by the launch of Maendeleo Chap Chap movement by Governor Alfred Mutua and last week's declaration by Wiper party that it will offer its leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the presidency in next year's General Election.
Battlelines have now been effectively drawn pitting Dr Mutua's supporters against those of the former Vice President in a face-off that observers say will put the political unity of the Kamba community to test.
Also in the equation is former Lands Minister and Narc party leader Charity Ngilu, who sources say has rolled up her sleeves to face off with Kitui Governor Julius Malombe in the gubernatorial race in 2017.
Ngilu was Jubilee's point person in the region during campaigns for the last General Election and was later appointed to President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet after losing the senatorial race to David Musila.
However, it is not clear yet which political coalition she will align herself with, especially having been hounded out of the Cabinet on corruption-related allegations.
Another person who analysts believe cannot be wished away in the region's political showdown is former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti, whose Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) party won a couple of seats in both parliamentary and county assembly in the last elections.
For instance in Machakos County alone, CCU produced two MPs, Victor Munyaka and Vincent Musyoka (Machakos Town and Mwala respectively), just one man below Kalonzo's Wiper, which delivered Patrick Makau (Mavoko), Robert Mbui (Kathiani) and Stephen Mule (Matungulu). Munyaka and Musyoka have since boarded Mutua's Chap Chap train.
The former Kathiani MP, who has declared she will run against Governor Mutua has said she will neither dissolve her party nor surrender her candidature. "One thing you can be sure about is that I will contest the gubernatorial seat next year on my party's ticket, and will not be anybody's running mate," Wavinya told The Standard.
Although Mutua has been described by his critics as an "inexperienced political newcomer", his candid and systematic approach towards stamping his authority and influence in Ukambani has rattled Wiper party's top guns.
Wiper, which has been the predominant political outfit in Ukambani, having comfortably delivered majority of the votes to CORD coalition's presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the last General Election, is now being viewed as the greatest potential casualty should Mutua's Chap Chap movement gain ground in the region.
But Wiper's top leaders including party chairman David Musila, Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, Secretary General and Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr have all dismissed Mutua's new outfit as 'a desperate attempt for a shortcut to political power'.
While addressing supporters during the party leaders' meeting in which Kalonzo was declared the party's choice for CORD's presidential ticket, the leaders said they were 'less bothered' by Mutua's new movement.
"We cannot as a party come here to waste time to discuss an individual. This meeting has nothing to do with Governor Mutua," declared Mr Musila.
Mutua had earlier issued a statement claiming that the Machakos Wiper meeting had been convened to counter "his growing political popularity" in the region.
Politicians allied to Mutua insist that the "train has left the station" and that there is no turning back.
MPs Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) Itwiku Mbai (Masinga) John Munuve (Mwingi North) and TIP leader and former Kibwezi West legislator Kalembe Ndile believe that Mutua is Ukambani's political messiah.
"Those who are against Maendeleo Chap Chap are enemies of development since the movement is about holistic transformation for our people, and Mutua is here to deliver that," said Dr Munyaka.
Mr Musyoka said Mutua had demonstrated clearly that he can offer the much needed transformative development in the region. "We have all seen what Mutua was able to do within three years, and yet some leaders had achieved largely nothing for several decades they have been in power. That tells you Mutua is the region's Messiah," he said.
Observers now predict that in the absence of political collaboration among the four players, there is a high possibility that the lower Eastern vote could be split, and therefore deal a big blow to the CORD coalition, which reaped big in the last general elections.
