Jubilee MP Joshua Kutuny’s ‘relationship’ with Koffi Olomide and why he does not want to work for Uhuru Kenyatta again

We meet to talk with former Uhuru Kenyatta’s Presidential political advisor Joshua Kutuny who is also the current Mp for Cherangany.

“Niaje mboys,” he bursts out to greet.  Known for his sheng and Swahili Joshua Kutuny has risen from his hustler days in Cherangany in Trans-zoia to become a legislature at parliament.

 Speaking to SDE the MP who lost his seat to athlete Independent candidate Wesley Korir in 2013, said he was glad to be back to parliament after 5 years in the cold.

“I lost in 2013 because I was campaigning for Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto,”he said.  Approaching the elections he did not campaign in his constituency giving his competitor a field day.

 “Looking at the numbers in 2013, I was scared Raila might win,” He laughs acknowledging that he was glad his support had yielded fruits.

After losing his seat, Kutuny was appointed as Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential political advisor-a role he notes opened his eyes to the world.

“It changed me a lot, as a presidential political advisor you realize that people are not your friends. They need you to deliver,” He recalls thoughtfully.

The exposure he had gotten and “trying to convince your boss (Uhuru) that he is wrong” was all good for his experience. But interesting given chance to go back, the lawmaker says that he would never want to work in that role. “I would hate working with my friend.” Saying that working as a political advisor to the President had its shares of challenges.

“I would need a place to tell you that this is wrong as it is. You know correcting a friend becomes a bit hectic, ” he states adding that he would pick his current position as an MP if the two positions were offered.

“Maze ni noma (its hard),” he comments in sheng. We were interesting in knowing why he had decided to use sheng (slang dialect) as a mheshimiwa and why he had always had the dance moves during political rallies.

For the mheshimiwa it all started from different and perhaps unprecedented way. In his exciting narration he opened up about his love for journalism, and why he had always hoped to be a dancer growing up.

“When I was growing up I wanted to be a media personality that is why I perfected my Kiswahili because I wanted to a news anchor, “he chuckled.

His love for Kiswahili he said, stated when his primary school student in local primary school in Cherangany. 

“Unajua wakati nilikua darasa la nane, nilikua nimefurahia sana vipindi vy Kiswahili, (In class 8 I always likd Kiswahili lessons)” attributing this to his teacher.

As it would be, his life happened and his dream to be journalist dropped.  He would take political science at Moi university.  

On his dance moves, the MP revealed that he had always gotten the inspiration from his father-a World War II veteran.

On returning from the war, Kutuny’s father went to Congo where he started a business as club owner.

“When I was growing up he used to listen to a lot of Rhumba. You know he had very nice big club in Congo.” He remarked with a giggle.

It was from this that the young Kutuny would dream of going to Congo himself and would hope to return as a great dancer.

“I always hoped this would make my father proud,”

His father while in Congo quipped with popular Congolese musicians like Franco, Tabu ley who would play at his popular club.

At one point Congolese singer Koffi Olomide’s mother became a patron in his father’s club. “So there was this issue when Koffi olomide was popular in 90s. My dad would express it in a way that would suggest something.” He reminisce with a laughter.

Kutuny saying that his father’s stay in Congo had been long and he (Kutuny) had approached Congolese musician Koffi olomide to have chat. “I was telling Olomide when he came to Kenya that ‘you know you could be my brother’, because my father stayed there for a long,” the lawmaker exclaimed.

Into the political play field, he expressed his disappointment with the political turn of events in the country and especially the role young people had played.

“In 2013 we were attacking Raila Odinga at that time on political grounds and was less tribal compared to this year’s election.”

To him the young leaders were not doing anything to help the situation.

“These time round people do not miss mentioning tribes in their political statements.” He uttered accusing young leaders of fuelling an already bad scenario.