Your time is up, Mutua tells Kalonzo after poll defeat

Machakos governor Alfred Mutua flanked by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka during the weeding of Robert Kibwana son of Makueni governor in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader Alfred Mutua has challenged his Wiper counterpart, Kalonzo Musyoka to exit the national political stage and give way for younger and visionary leaders

In a statement issued on Friday, Mutua, who is the Machakos governor, said Kalonzo’s 36-year reign as Ukambani political supremo has driven the community to a bottomless pit of poverty, underdevelopment and political desperation.

“The Ukambani region has been under the so-called leadership of Kalonzo for 36 years and truth be told, the region has only become poorer because he is not a person whose politics lead us towards development,” Mutua said.

Citing the recently concluded by election in Nguu/Masumba ward in Makueni where the Wiper candidate, Eshio Mwaiwa came third after being defeated by independent candidate, Timothy Maneno and United Democratic Alliance’s Daniel Musau, Mutua said Ukambani residents are progressively moving towards political liberation.

“The time has expired for Kalonzo Musyoka. You cannot continue to purport that you are the leader for Ukambani," Mutua said.

"The times have shifted and I am calling upon my fellow leaders including governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Charity Ngilu (Kitui), senators, MPs, religious leaders and professionals to now have the strength to free our people from the yoke of mind control where they have been told to remain poor and proud.” 

Mutua’s call comes after the chair of National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki recently warned Kamba political leaders that the Akamba community risked being left out of mainstream government after next year’s General Election.

“I strongly feel that as a community we are not moving at the right speed to align ourselves strategically ahead of next year’s General Election,” said Archbishop Ndambuki.