Confusion galore as parties prepare for Makueni Senate race

By Stephen Makabila and Daniel Nzia       

Eleven days to deadline of presentation of nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the Makueni Senate by-election, CORD and Jubilee coalitions are not sitting pretty.

While Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), which is under CORD, has not settled on a clear flag bearer, The Standard on Sunday has established there is confusion in Jubilee regarding which party Prof Philip Kaloki should run. IEBC set nomination dates of political parties for June 26 and 27 and they will have to present their papers to the county returning officer on the same dates.

In a gazette notice, IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan stated candidates were to submit party symbols by June 5 in preparation for the by-election to be held on July 22.

The campaign period was set for between July 1 and July 21 and candidates are expected to hold rallies between 7am and 6pm as per election rules. The Makueni seat fell vacant following the death of Senator Mutula Kilonzo in April.

Apart from CORD and Jubilee affiliates, other parties likely to field candidates include PICK of Haroun Mwau and the Labour Party of Kenya (LPK).

LPK’s candidate for the seat Jane Kitundu, told The Standard on Sunday she had already presented party symbols and papers to the IEBC. Kitundu, who is a trained nurse, had contested the Makueni County Women Representative seat in the March 4 election and came second.

“In the March 4 election, I sought votes from across the county for a different seat, but this time I am ready to hit the road running for the Senate seat and I believe I have the right credentials to be elected the first woman Senator not in Makueni but in the country,” said Kitundu.

Though Mwau was initially said not to be interested in the seat, latest reports indicate he was going to run on PICK. The WDM has been banking on Mutula’s daughter, Kethi Diana Kilonzo to contest, but she has since indicated she was out of the race after her step mother, Nduku Kilonzo, expressed interest in the seat.

Last week, Nduku pulled out of the race three days after she had shyly suggested she would go for the seat.

She also declared she would fully back her stepdaughter if she changed her mind and take a jab at the seat.

“I had a meeting on Monday night with members of my family including my children, brothers, sisters and close friends. They have advised me that this is not the right time and I am still mourning the loss of my husband. There will be another time,” she said on Tuesday.

She added: “I will throw my support behind Kethi should she decide to run. I will fully support her.”

Nduku had attended a church service last Sunday at our Lady of Lourdes in Machakos in the company of Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu where she made the announcement.

Though it is not clear if Kethi, who has not come out publicly to declare her interest in the seat, will make a ‘comeback’, the Wiper  party is still interested in her candidature.

Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said the party would convince Kethi to reconsider her stand. Speaking in Machakos yesterday, Senator Johnstone Muthama said as far as CORD is concerned, Kethi will be their flag bearer. But Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao said if Kethi had decided not to run, the party should not push her further. Efforts to reach Kethi have remained fruitless.

The Standard on Sunday has established among those WDM is likely to fall back on if Kethi remains adamant include former Knut Treasurer Benard Kithuku, who lost the Mbooni parliamentary seat.

Other hopefuls

Others are former PC Wilfred Ndolo, but whom reports now say is technically out because he has not resigned from the public service, and Major-General (retired) John Mutwii. If Kethi remains out of the race, then gender politics will equally be at play with Kitundu of the LPK, remaining the only woman against male contestants.

“If Kethi joins the race, its well and good, but if she does not,  I will still fly the women’s flag but seek votes from all, men and youth included, because leadership has no gender or age boundaries,” said Kitundu. The Makueni seat is crucial for WDM to retain while Jubilee which has less members in Senate, wants to also secure it. Kaloki, Jubilee’s preferred candidate, reportedly dispatched his papers to the IEBC in Makueni through emmisaries since he is out of the country, and is reported to have settled on URP as his party.

“The decision to have URP as Kaloki’s party of choice instead of Narc was to avoid the Makueni contest look as if it was battle between Ngilu and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka,” a source in URP told The Standard on Sunday.

Earlier when Kaloki and two other politicians allied to Jubilee (Gideon Ndabuki and Peter Kiilu) met the President, its reported Kiilu backed Kaloki while Ngilu had a soft spot for Ndambuki.

The Jubilee team, its said, prefers Kaloki because he can be an asset in the 2017 election if he wins the seat in the coming by-election.

“He is younger compared to Ndambuki and well educated. There is a feeling if he wins, he will remain an asset for the coalition after five years,” pointed out a source in the coalition.

Mutula died on 27th April, 2013.  The law requires that a by-election is held within 90 days from the occurrence of a vacancy.  Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro on May 13 declared the Makueni Senate seat vacant.

IEBC County Returning Officer for Makueni Guracha Salad Boru is the man in charge of the by-election scheduled for July 22.  Makueni County has six constituencies—Mbooni, Makueni, Kilome, Kaiti, Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West.