Elders urged to broker Kalonzo and Muthama truce

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Machakos County senator Johnston Muthama and Kenya Water Institute (KEWI) Chairperson Wavinya Ndeti at a past function in Mavoko, Machakos County. [File, Standard]

The Kamba council of elders has been urged to intervene in the political rivalry between Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama.

Kalonzo, Muthama and Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua have been engaging in a supremacy battle on who should lead the community in the country’s succession politics. Former Yatta legislator Francis Mwangangi said the ongoing war of words will have far-reaching implications for the region in the 2022 elections.

Mwangangi, who is the Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) deputy party leader, called on the elders to convene an urgent meeting to reconcile the warring leaders before the situation goes out of hand. At the same time, the former legislator has cautioned allies of the Kamba leaders to desist from fuelling enmity and instead work towards reconciliation for the sake of the region’s political stability.

“I call upon the two leaders to sacrifice their personal interests for the bigger picture of the community’s political stability,” said Mwangangi. He said the two should focus on how the community will be part of the next government and work towards the region’s development.

“Right now other communities are busy strategising how to be part of the next government after Uhuru’s exit and we should also start doing the same,” he added. He urged the council of elders to broker unity among the two leaders and work towards bringing stability to the whole Kamba community.

The former MP cautioned members of the community against being used to advance individuals’ agenda at the expense of the region’s unity.