Governor Mutua's Chap Chap outfit ignites political heat

The weekend launch of Maendeleo Chap Chap movement (MCC) by Governor Alfred Mutua has heightened political temperatures in Ukambani.

The move appeared to have split the region's dominant party, Wiper Democratic Movement, down the middle with a section of its officials led by Makueni County Chairman Francis Mailu backing Dr Mutua's initiative.

Mr Mailu has said he is now the MCC co-ordinator in the county and that he has no regrets in supporting Mutua, arguing that time for change of guard in the region's leadership has now come.

He condemned the incident that occurred after Mutua had launched the movement on Saturday in which hired goons claimed they had been promised money which they never got. He blamed the occurrence on "prophets of doom" who are out to frustrate the governor's ambitions.

"MCC is not a political party; it is a movement to unite the Kamba and the country at large for posterity," said the former strong supporter of former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

A leading lawyer from the region, Nyami Mati, scoffed at calls to expel Mutua from Wiper describing the party as a tired outfit.

"The threat to suspend the governor is not new. Similar attempts to expel MCAs supportive of the governor from the party failed last year," said Mr Nyamu who represented the ward reps at the political parties' tribunal hearing.

Mutua said his movement was national, and he was not interested in what he termed as tribal and regional supremacy.

"The Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement is catalyst for development in Ukambani region, which has lagged behind in terms of development," said Mutua.

He said his wish was to work towards liberating the residents of the lower eastern region from abject poverty that has riddled them for decades.

Wiper top officials including Senators Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Hassan Omar accused the governor of being used by the Jubilee coalition to cause confusion in Ukambani, and warned that his attempt was bound to fail miserably.