Kioni responds after Makau Mutua 'protests' remarks

A side by side photo of Azimio la Umoja spokesperson Makau Mutua and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni. [File, Standard]

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has responded to Azimio la Umoja spokesperson Makau Mutua after he challenged him and the Kamwene leadership forum to stage protests in the country.

Mutua, on his X platform, stated; "I will take my brother Kioni seriously when he and his Kamwene siblings organize maandamano in the Mountain."

Kamwene Unity Forum (KUF) is a new formation meant to represent the interests of Mt Kenya residents.

KUF was formed on August 3 by Azimio deputy party leader Martha Karua, PNU leader and former Agriculture CS Peter Munya and Kioni.

In a rejoinder, Kioni has referred to Mutua as a busybody who measures protests as loyalty to the Azimio coalition.

"It's unfortunate that some busybodies led by Makau Mutua have set 'maandamano' as a standard to measure loyalty or respect granted to individuals in the Azimio [la Umoja] coalition. A process in which many Kenyans lost their lives fighting for a better Kenya. Get back to me on substantive issues." said Kioni on X.

Kioni further reminded Mutua that he was in the Azimio la Umoja coalition to stay.

A section of leaders have taken issue with the formation of KUF saying there were no consultations before forming the group.

They have also accused the Kamwene group of pushing for their personal interests and not that of the region.

"The name Kamwene has a negative connotation that propels dictates of individualism, isolationism and self-interests but the political future of our region can only be propelled through political partnerships with the rest of Kenya and not through such ideologies," former Gichugu MP Njogu Barua stated.