I fooled Azimio, worked with Ruto Mutuse reveals

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse addresses a past event in Makueni County. [File, Standard]

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who kept a low profile before initiating the impeachment motion against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has revealed how he played his political cards during the 2022 General Election with the blessings of President William Ruto.

Addressing a meeting attended by clergy—where no cameras or sound recorders were allowed—on Friday at his Kaunguni rural home in Kikumbulyu North, Mutuse said he “straddled the fence” to hoodwink the Azimio side, lifting the lid on Kenya’s politics where opportunism and betrayal are the nature of the game. This time, it pitted a green-horn politician against the old guard.

“I talked with President William Ruto in either March or April 2022 when he was flying to the United States, and he told me he wanted us to work together. He was optimistic of winning the presidency that year and told me to look for Kipchumba Murkomen and Irungu Kang’ata to craft a working formula. I did exactly that,” he revealed.

The first-term MP said that when President Ruto, then Deputy President, jetted back into the country, they held a secret meeting where a deal to tame the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leadership—led by presidential candidate Raila Odinga, his running mate Martha Karua, and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka—was hatched.

First, Mutuse was to remain inclined to Azimio, which enjoyed a strong support base in Ukambani, while keeping his options open.

“In a meeting where Ruto was present, he told me to talk to Dr Alfred Mutua, the Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader, to shift to his side, then I was to remain in Azimio. This acted as a double bet. Ruto would often call me to discuss hard-hitting politics and remind me of the course ahead as we joined hands,” he claimed.

Although in the past the region’s lawmakers went against the grain, Mutuse’s political treachery—harming ‘allies’ and rewarding former ‘rivals’—left a scar.

“To show I am a real team leader, we are hereby dropping Wiper party’s candidate for the Kibwezi West MP seat and supporting Mwengi Mutuse’s candidature. We are picking Mutuse to prevent any penetration of the wheelbarrow (UDA) in that region. When you win this seat, you will be Wiper in waiting. Don’t try to divide our people,” Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka announced on August 5, 2022, at Unoa Grounds in Makueni while unveiling the party’s line-up in the county.

For the rebel MP, the endorsement by Kalonzo and Raila carried no weight in his win.

He disclosed what transpired before Ruto was declared the winner of the presidential election.

“Before Ruto was announced the winner, I talked with Uhuru Kenyatta’s close associates about who had won the presidency. They did not give a straight answer, claiming they were waiting for the IEBC to announce the winner. I then reached out to Junet Mohamed after failing to reach Raila Odinga, whose phone was off. When I met Junet, I learnt there was a plot to have the late IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati alter the presidential results to deny Ruto the win,” Mutuse claimed, warning against recording the address.

He said the plan was to ensure that no presidential candidate attained the required 50 per cent plus one vote, thereby forcing a run-off within 30 days.

“I met Kalonzo Musyoka at his Karen home, where I explained why we should swiftly work with Ruto. He revealed that Ruto had called him and requested a working formula, but he was not ready and asked for time until the following day. I did not hesitate; I left Musyoka’s residence, met Ruto, and pledged my loyalty,” he claimed.

Now oozing political energy, Mutuse says he is on a new course—seeking to replace Kalonzo Musyoka as the Ukambani kingpin after the 2032 General Election, when he believes President Ruto will be exiting as Kenya’s sixth president. However, the MP appears to bank on a treacherous waiting game, hoping for the misfortunes of Kalonzo and other national leaders to rise to power.

“There are people telling me to vie for the Makueni gubernatorial seat in 2027. No, I will return to Parliament because the reality is that Ruto will win the 2027 election, and in 2032 he will go home with many other leaders. That is where my plan lies. Some people who have dominated Kenyan politics include Raila Odinga—who is dead—and Kalonzo Musyoka, who is now 74 years old and will be over 80 by 2032. He is a lazy leader, and we do not expect him to improve with age. By virtue of age, if Ruto is re-elected in 2027, Rigathi Gachagua will be eliminated,” he sensationally said.

He envisions a Kenya where the leadership baton will be handed over to a new generation of politicians.