As the Wiper Democratic Party (WDP) retreats to Maanzoni Lodge today, several things will occupy the attention of party leaders.
Of concern will be a renewed push by Wiper’s elected politicians who have asked party leader Kalonzo Muskoya to state unequivocally that he will be running for the presidency in 2017.
On the surface, Wiper’s secretary general Hassan Omar calls the two-day retreat in Machakos County a routine affair.
“We must rejig our stamina as the Opposition. We must appreciate that there are challenges in society and we must be steadfast as we head to the crucial stage in preparing for the next polls. We need to assess where we are as Opposition, are we satisfied, what more needs to be done,” said Mr Omar, the Mombasa Senator.
But for MPs Stephen Mule (Matungulu) and Richard Makenga (Kaiti), there will be nothing routine about this meeting.
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“We know members are meeting to discuss party affairs. However, we cannot avoid the issue of the presidential contest at this crucial time,” said Mr Mule.
Omar, however, wants this discussion made later after the other corporate members of the Coalition of Reforms and Democracy, the Orange Democratic Movement and Ford Kenya have held similar retreats.
“All individual parties of CORD have agreed to hold their separate meetings before we have a two-day retreat as the Opposition,” said Omar.
This is the point of departure between Mule and Omar.
“Our focus should be on the 2017 polls. The party leader should not settle for anything less than the presidency as we should take a stand on the matter before the coalition meeting on September 6 and 7,” said Mule. He, however, cautions; if Kalonzo fails to heed their advice, “the roads will still lead to Gatundu in 2017 and this is not a threat but a fact.”
Makenga concurred. “Our people must first be in solidarity to cooperate with others before we can have our way. Our party is strong in CORD,” said Makenga.
During the retreat, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua will be on the mind of party luminaries even if they do not say so openly. The Machakos Governor has launched a programme he calls Maendeleo Chap Chap, an initiative he says is designed to empower people of Ukambani.
Some at Wiper think Mutua has been a divisive element whose agenda is to undermine party leader Kalonzo.
“We are not going to waste the party’s time discussing Jubilee detractors, this is wrong for the party,” Omar said.“We are going to take stock of our performance as a party; dwell on our achievements and focus on the coalition agenda. We will be seeking to explore possible setbacks backs to strengthen the Coalition’s affairs,” said the secretary general.
Omar also dismissed reports that Mutua had been crowned the Kamba elder after it emerged that some elders in Ukambani had also dismissed these reports.
However, there are some politicians like MPs Makali Mulu (Kitui Central) and Benard Kitungi (Mwingi West) who want greater accountability from politicians who undermine the Wiper leadership.
“The governor is a member of the Wiper Summit, which is the highest decision-making organ of the party, anyone who messes with the Constitution and the political parties’ Act, should be punished,” said Mulu.
He continued, “We would be deceiving ourselves if we fail to deliberate on these concerns.”
Wiper vice chairman Mutula Kilonzo Jnr said some leaders will rue the day they undermined Wiper which enjoys unwavering support in the region.
“Devolution is structured to meet the needs of every county uniquely. What Mutua is doing is causing confusion,” said Kilonzo Jnr, the Makueni Senator in reference to the Machakos Governor’s meeting with some leaders from Makueni and Kitui.
Mutua has studiously maintained that Maendeleo Chap Chap is a vehicle to empower local people.
“The Maendeleo Chap Chap and unity movement is not political but aims at tackling the problems that bedevil the community. It is for Kamba unity and development. Those who claim it is designed to divide Kenyans do not know the concept,” Mutua said.
Pundits says some of the problems that Kalonzo’s outfit is experiencing is because the party leader has never served as a member of the Opposition before.
However, Omar and Mulu dismissed such claims. They say there is no official opposition as the new constitution has created the county governments.
“We have a pure presidential system of governance. We are all in government either at the national level or county level. Our letter heads read the government of Kenya and we appreciate what the Constitution has done,” said Omar.
Mulu added, “ What matters is that we are fully in CORD and should make the best opportunity out of it. Address the wrongs in society and empower our people.”
