KALONZO WEPT

A sad cloud has engulfed Kambaland. Cries of terrified leaders can be heard from Kapiti plains heading towards Yatta plateau as an infectious disease ravages the semi arid lands of Lower Eastern region. Yesterday, a family that had come together to fight a common enemy disagreed with each chartering own path. The disease that came from Kisii has been blamed for the family clashes.

Kalonzo for a long time has been presumed to be the kingpin of Kamba community. His political enemies and rivals have said that he has terribly underperformed. There has been mutiny from his camp and in August 2020 we saw an attempted coup from three local leaders.

Governors: Kivutha, Kaluki and Mutua all want the fly whisk of Kalonzo. They want the power to control the million votes of mbaa lîlî. They all pretend to want to lead the country but in all essence they want to be able to sell the community to the highest bidder. Like Kalonzo has done for ages.

When Raila and his new brother Uhuru went into an handshake, there was jubilations from the three governors. Their deduction was that Kalonzo was exposed. It was their turn now to attack him at his lowest most vulnerable point. For all his faults, Kalonzo has nine lives. Unlike Ruto, he declined to be left behind. He forced himself to the handshake and the subsequent BBI discourse.

The three governors from Ukambani formed South Eastern Kenya Economic bloc (SEKEB) to expedite implementation of various proposals including the establishment of a regional bank and poverty eradication measures touching on the three counties. Political pundits would say that SEKEB was just a front for a punching bag to dislodge Kalonzo from Ukambani supremacy and advance one of their own as presidential candidate. Mutua would soon confirm the same.

“We have agreed that whatever happens we will be together, we will have one candidate who will be attractive to the entire country and I am ready for that. If it is Kibwana, I will support him and if it is me, he will support me,” said Mutua.

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Now that BBI was launched by Uhuru in Kisii, the future of Kamba leaders has been thrown into disarray. It seems they were not privy to the contents of BBI beforehand. The romance and relationship between the three governors is withering at an astronomical rate. Kalonzo has not been spared either. Yesterday, Kamba community saw disturbing images of Kalonzo in Laikipia holding a document that’s meant to bury his political career.

Alfred Mutua has made a name for himself through attacking Ruto and endearing himself to Raila. Even when Jubilee leadership made it clear that Raila is their preferred candidate, Mutua hanged on like a stubborn tick suckling a skinned hide. He took every opportunity to praise the handshake and BBI. When not posting about his new hotel, he would post about the handshake and his dream of speaking sheng from State House.

When BBI was finally released, Mutua found his theatrics hadn’t been captured nor accomodated in the document. If he wants any top position provided by the document, he will have to vie as an MP. Not only must he win the parliamentary elections, he must also be running on the winning party’s ticket as well as be favoured by the winning president. That would mean killing his Maendeleo Chap Chap Party. It is no wonder that Mutua has joined Ruto in campaigning against the BBI.

Kivutha on his part has been sending cryptic messages on his stand on BBI as well as overall stand on 2022 presidential elections. He took Twitter by storm a few months ago when he said that Wanjiku had forced him to vie for the top seat. He has not posted if it’s Wanjiku who’s telling him to outrageously flirt with DP Ruto in broad daylight. Even though the governor has not given a definite position on the matter, it will be just a matter of time before he comes out to oppose it. That’s unless Raila courts him. Raila has shown a sense of arrogance in the recent days towards the Kamba community. With Uhuru promising him Mt Kenya votes, he feels he no longer needs the Kamba votes that sustained him for ten years.

Charity Ngilu has already hit the ground running. She’s campaigning aggressively for BBI. Addressing crowds yesterday, Ngilu said that it’s time we rectified sore issues in our constitution. She feels that BBI will do the job. She said that BBI empowers counties and that it is pro devolution. Ngilu will be seeking a second term as Kitui’s CEO. Being in good books with Raila and Uhuru might be a survival tactic.

Kalonzo on his part has declared his support for BBI. The last time he went against the president his pension was withdrawn. Considering he has no billions like his rivals, we might understand why he is digging his own grave. Kalonzo yesterday addressing a crowd pitifully smaller than that of Raila and Ruto, weakly waved the BBI document to Laikipia residents. This is a document that does not offer any path to Kalonzo on his journey to state house, yet he is supporting it. What these politicians are doing to Kalonzo is not fair.

Ukambani is in trouble. BBI has messed it up. It’s threatening the political hegemony. The likes of Nduya are perched on an electric pole patiently waiting for the right time to pounce.