Internal differences within the Wiper Party on how to contain simmering rebellion by three Ukambani governors has forced its leader Kalonzo Musyoka to convene a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Musyoka’s party is split between two camps, with one hardliner group pushing for expulsion of party national chairman Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana while the other, consisting of moderate MPs, calling for dialogue and reconciliation.
The hardliners, who include former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua and Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi, want Prof Kibwana forced out and have even publicly dared the governor to seek fresh mandate using another political party.
On the other hand, the moderates who include MPs Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Jessica Mbalu (Kibwezi east), Charles Nguna (Mwingi west) and Dr Irene Kasalu (Women rep Kitui) among others have called for dialogue, saying the party should listen to Governor Kibwana and his colleagues.
This split informed a decision to lock out the media from Tuesday’s meeting which the former vice president convened at his Yatta farm in Machakos County.
On Monday evening, one of Mr Musyoka’s aides placed calls to several journalists in the region asking them individually to stay away from the party meeting to allow MPs and MCAs to deliberate their issues privately.
The meeting — a belated New Year goat-eating party bringing together Wiper MPs and MCAs — is expected to discuss how to deal with their party chairman who was not invited to the meeting.
It is not clear which camp will carry the day but sources indicated that Mr Musyoka favours the moderates and has tasked some elders to mediate their differences.