Kalonzo ends union with Kibwana party

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has cut ties with Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana’s Muungano party.

Kalonzo said the “negotiated democracy” that saw the latter get re-elected on a direct Wiper ticket had lapsed.

Addressing the media after a leaders’ meeting at Makindu, Kibwezi West, on Monday night, the former vice president explained that the coalition agreement they had entered with Muungano was to last one year, which ended last December.

He clarified that they will not renew the pact, saying the party will write to the Registrar of Political Parties to officially end the “disastrous marriage.”

MCA attacked

“The coalition agreement we entered was supposed to take one year and that has lapsed. We are now going to write to the registrar to make the office aware that from now there is no any political relationship between Wiper and Muungano,” Kalonzo said. 

He remembered an incident where a Wiper nominated MCA was recently attacked in the assembly premises and claimed that no one seemed to care.

A signal

“MCAs are getting attacked viciously and nobody seems to care. It’s high time Wiper party became the majority party and Muungano to move to the minority side. I have explained the same to Makueni assembly speaker,” Kalonzo said.

He said the move was meant to strengthen the party, not only in Ukambani but across other regions ahead of 2022 polls.

“We are doing this with a clean heart, not political plots. We want to strengthen Wiper as it’s the third largest party in Kenya as we plan to take leadership of this country,” Kalonzo said.

He noted that the party’s victory in the Embakasi South parliamentary by-election against Orange Democratic Movement in April was a signal of where Wiper was headed.

Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said ending the coalition would affect the county assembly leadership  positions that are shared equally between Wiper and Muungano ward reps.

“Wiper will reap big as Muungano stands to lose. This will basically affect the house leadership especially committees and those holding positions. It means reorganisation will be done immediately,” Maanzo told The Standard. 

It will be remembered that when Kibwana decamped to Wiper at Kambu market ahead of 2017 General Election, he hinted that he will be crossing over as an individual and that his former party will remain intact with bona fide party officials.

Failure by Kibwana to dissolve his party has raised eyebrows on his future intentions, and his devotion to Wiper party; given his frequent threats on what he is likely to do in the event he is kicked out. 

Recent remarks

The governor recently called on Kalonzo to shelve his ambition for the presidency in 2022 and instead support his candidature, something that seemed to have angered him (Kalonzo) and Wiper leaders.

“Kalonzo has vied for the presidency several times in vain. He should support Mutua or myself in the next elections,” Kibwana said a week ago while launching water projects in Kawala, Makueni. Alfred Mutua is the Machakos governor.

During a burial on Monday, the Wiper party leader said there was no rebellion in Ukambani, and told off Kibwana on his sentiments about becoming the next president.