Kalonzo Musyoka's support for Charity Ngilu causes jitters

Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka hugs suspended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu after her hearing on Friday. (Photo: George Njuunge/Standard)

The camaraderie between CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka and suspended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu in court corridors on Friday has jolted the political order in Ukambani.

Emerging political formations and current political office holders in the region were Saturday analysing the pros and cons of the pair’s hugs beyond the court corridors.

While some think the prospects of a political marriage between the two would be inconsequential, others think Kalonzo may be inviting fresh trouble.

Despite coming from the same Kitui backyard, the two have not quite seemed to get along for long.

“We will cross the bridge when we get there. For now, let me focus on facing the situation I find myself in,” Ngilu curtly told The Standard on Sunday Saturday.

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau, a fierce supporter of Kalonzo, says the former VP courted a “serious political risk” that could easily backfire. He says his party leader’s decision was not subjected to thorough discussion in the Wiper Party.

The risk is three-fold; implications of Ngilu’s ‘return’ on her local rivals such as Wiper chairman David Musila, implications on potential competitors such as Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, and image implications if Jubilee takes back Ngilu.

“I am worried our party leader may become a laughing stock if Jubilee gives in on the case against Ngilu,” Makau says.

The same view is shared by Mwala MP Vincent Musau, who says Friday’s events could backfire on Kalonzo.

“Here is a situation where from the Opposition end you keep shouting that the Government should act on corruption, but when something is done you shout back that your community is being targeted. How, then, will you be taken seriously?” Musau posed.

He says a political marriage between the two has not worked in the past, and cannot work. Besides, he says, the biggest threat to Kalonzo’s hold on Ukambani is not Ngilu but Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua: “He may run in circles about this but the fact is that he will have to face the Mutua factor.

“For a start, Machakos County will go wherever Mutua goes. It is a question of bringing the other counties on board.”

When we spoke to Mutua, he deflected all questions on Friday’s events, instead harping on his ‘Maendeleo chap chap’ philosophy. Mutua, an avowed friend of Ngilu, says the era of politicians cutting deals at the expense of their communities is long gone.

“We are tired of people selling our community for personal positions. My stand is that we negotiate for development projects. If you want my support, I will ask you what there is for my people,” Mutua said.

“I’m focused on Maendeleo Chap Chap philosophy, which is based on a new ideology of politics of development. The old school has been pushing the traditional politics of poverty and I am not keen to go down that route.”

That aside, the Machakos governor expressed hope that Ngilu would be exonerated: “Her heart is with the plight of our people. That is what’s most important.”

The governor has hosted President Uhuru Kenyatta five times in the last two and half years. He has openly defied his Wiper Party’s position on a number of issues.

He has also skipped CORD rallies in Machakos attracting tongue lashing from the coalition’s luminaries and his nemesis, Senator Johnstone Muthama.

The Ngilu-Kalonzo arrangement puts the Wiper leader back on a clashing trajectory with Mutua only a few months after a Nakuru truce where Mutua was appeased with a top party organ position.

Riding on their access to resources, Mutua had rallied the three Ukambani governors into a loose political confederacy of sorts, where an attack on one would amount to an attack on all. A perception that Musyoka could and can back Ngilu against Malombe would reignite the tensions.

But some leaders are not reading much into the Ngilu-Musyoka matter.

“We need to show solidarity with our people. That should not and does not mean a political union. In any case, even if they were to unite, that is not unity of the community,” Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi says.

 And Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo rules out any political risk in Kalonzo’s support for Ngilu. Just like Mwangangi, he alleges a purge is underway against perceived strong community leaders.

“From the way I have heard her talk, and from the schemes I have heard of, I can assure you there is no way Charity can go back to Jubilee. And if she did, she would be finished politically. We want to look at her as the agent who will unite CORD once and for all,” Maanzo says.

He says the chants inside the courtroom that Ngilu is the governor of Kitui sealed the fate of Malombe.