Wiper lack of leadership choking NASA’s hope to clinch Ukambani vote

The 10 million strong mantra chanted by National Super Alliance (NASA) might turn out to be a mirage as the alliance seems to be losing it grip on the Kamba vote with Kalonzo Musyoka failing to stem simmering rebellion in his backyard.

After months of smoke, the fire finally came out when leader of minority in the National Assembly Francis Nyenze disowned the former Vice President in the biggest revolt to face the Wiper Democratic Movement leader in Ukambani.

Ironically, this comes barely weeks after NASA national coordinating committee leader Johnstone Muthama said he has irreconcilable differences with his party leader. The action of the two leaders — Nyenze and Muthama — confirms that there is a lot of bad feeling in Ukambani and as much as they hate to accept it, the ruling coalition is preparing itself for a bumper harvest of the Ukambani votes come August 8 General Elections.

It might just be the fortunate swing vote that will propel President Uhuru Kenyatta back to State House for another five years reign, clinching the seat on the first round of asking.

Like has always been the case, the Ukambani people are begging to piece together the pieces and have realised that there is an internal breakdown of order and Wiper Party is indeed the small party in Ukambani and will soon have no relevance in national politics. Back in April, David Musila, then the Wiper Party Chairman, walked out in protest when he resigned citing Kalonzo as the man behind his loss through rigging in the Kitui gubernatorial contest in favour of incumbent Julius Malombe. Well, the signs could never be clearer.

Yet another sign to show the fall of the Wiper Leader iron grip on Ukambani votes was evident when Musila said their choice to skip the unveiling of the NASA presidential flagbearer was deliberate to confirm their position that Ukambani had bolted out because they were dissatisfied with the party leadership.

And as the two giants of Ukambani fight, Jubilee may be the winner in disguise. Not that Jubilee Party does not need the Ukambani votes, getting more than what it had in 2013 is what is making NASA’s Raila Odinga fret at the prospects of another straight loss in the first round. It is worse not because it emanates from a failed campaign, but because Raila’s running mate failed to whip his kinsmen to his course. The Ukambani flip-flop antics, which show an array of abnormal stubbornness, may as well have changed Kenyan politics forever and orchestrated the trigger that will finally send Raila out of Kenya’s national politics right to the abyss.

With that, all that Jubilee Party is now targeting is to get at least 350,000 votes from the three counties of Makueni, Machakos and Kitui. In 2013, Jubilee only garnered 89,064 votes in Ukambani and with the acrimony and backstabbing in the region, that critical protest vote my hit the 400,000 mark by the time the country goes to polls in August as the Kalonzo rebel list balloons.

For leaders to stand tall and dismiss Kalonzo in public, it means, they have analysed the consequences it comes with and it must have dawned on them that the Jubilee side is worthy the bet and it provides a better landing. It is easier now for the rebels popularising the Jubilee outfit in Ukambani to say their region has been short-changed for the last five years.

It will be believable and after all it is the truth! The MPs Richard Makenga (Kaiti), Regina Ndambuki (Kilome), John Munuve (Mwingi north), Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central) together with Mavoko MP aspirant Kalembe Ndile, Kenya Medical training College Board chairman Philip Kaloki and National Social Security Fund board chairman Gideon Ndambuki have shown their steadfast believe in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership and their action will bring development to the region when Jubilee finally wins the vote in August.