Cousin MPs who hate each other’s bloody guts

There is always tension when Joe Mutambu, MP for Mwingi Central, and John Munuve, MP for Mwingi North meet in public. They greet each other fine, but while avoiding eye contact.

Mutambu dismisses Munuve as poor, lacking in finesse. Munuve describes Mutambu as an academic dwarf. Often times, the two have verbally torn into each other, sometimes almost getting physical.

Mutambu, however, reluctantly admits they are distant cousins, saying he has a cordial relationship with Munuve’s mother, who calls him “my son.” Says Mutambu: “His mother loves me very much.”

 This was confirmed during a recent fundraiser held at Kwa-Katile Secondary School attended by the two. who gave their contributions. Indeed, Munuve’s mother ‘escorted’ each of them with Sh1, 000 declaring happily “both of them are my sons.”

However, Munuve’s dislike for Mutambu would not allow him to admit they are related saying “my mum happens to come from Nuu where he comes from. That doesn’t make him my cousin...if it does, then you can also be my cousin.”

 In the past, the two have even clashed in the presence of Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka.

Poor dependent MP

Like in July last year during the burial of 13 people killed in Nyanyaa village.

Munuve stoked the hornet’s nest after accusing Mutambu of being a self-seeker and a party rebel.

Mutambu charged bitterly, calling Munuve a “poor MP who is dependent on House allowances.”

A background check shows the two are from totally different backgrounds and personalities, but who fate conspired to thrust into political leadership.

Seen as arrogant and abrasive, Munuve (he inherited Kalonzo’s parliamentary seat) is fond of dwelling on his university days.

Munuve has a penchant for casual wear, sporting a tilted cap and untucked shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow. Even his walking style is brusque, purposeful.

Munuve carries a cigarette packet in his shirt pocket. It is not uncommon for him to step out of a meeting, any meeting, to light up.

Mutambu views this as being uncultured.

Munuve’s personality got him into trouble with the Kanu regime while at the University of Nairobi where he was declared a dissident, forcing him to flee to Tanzania where he completed his education at the University of Dar-es-Salaam.

Though a man of humble beginnings, Mutambu on the other hand, is a man given to sharp designer suits and accessories that paint the picture of money and status.

He occasionally flies into his constituency in a chopper and showers his supporters with freebies.

His supporters say he is a self-made man who beat all odds to become a successful businessman - licensed to carry a gun - before being elected to parliament.

The MP remembers his dark past; dropping out school to herd other people’s livestock for pay, then graduating to a deejay in Mwingi town.

He was once a promoter for Kenyan female boxer Conjestina Achieng.

His education background however is sketchy, something his critic Munuve gleefully uses as ammunition to discredit him.

Playing guitar in Mwingi

The Engineers Board of Kenya was last year forced to apologise through a newspaper advertisement after it congratulated Mutambu alongside other engineers who had been elected to parliament.

But Mutambu was not shaken. “I did not tell them to congratulate me. Their advertisement does not stop me from being an engineer. I can prove my academic credentials any day,” Mutambu, who goes by the title ‘Engineer’ reacted then.

Nominated Wiper MP Bishop Robert Mutemi has tried reconciling the two without success saying “the wrangles are not healthy. It is important that they bury the hatchet and agree.”

Asked why they differ so bitterly, Munuve responded: “Just look at where I went to school and my human rights work. What was he doing? Playing guitar in some dingy discotheque in Mwingi town. We have nothing in common.”

Mutambu however thinks his colleague is a crook with no friends. “Let him show you one person he agrees with. He is a lone ranger. He doesn’t bother me,” responded Mutambu.