Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana has taken on Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka again warning him that his time is over and it was time for Kalonzo to hand over the mantle to other leaders from the region.
The governor who ditched Kalonzo Musyoka after the 2017 polls seem to have heightened his criticism on the Kamba kingpin who has led the region’s politics for over two decades now.
It is not the first time the hard-working governor is taking the battle to his boss doorsteps. Recently Kivutha Kibwana and Kalonzo Musyoka tussles were displayed openly after two sides of MCAs from Makueni one supporting Kalonzo and the other Kibwana traded kicks and blows over disagreements.
Kivutha wants Kalonzo to take a back seat in Ukambani politics and support another fresh candidate to propel the region’s politics to another level.
The governor who ditched Kalonzo Musyoka after the 2017 polls seem to have heightened his criticism on the Kamba kingpin who has led the region’s politics for over two decades now.
”We have stood with Mr. Musyoka since 1993. Every time he contests the presidency or supports a coalition, he loses. We shall dispatch a delegation of elders, women and youths to tell him our time to contest has come,” Prof Kibwana told a rally at Kawala village.
Kivutha Kibwana is accusing Kalonzo of thwarting development in the region and has called on him to hang his boots for fresh blood because he cannot offer anything new to Ukambani. Governor Kibwana abandoned his position as the Chair of Wiper Party last year after severing links with his party leader.
Wiper party is the dominant political vehicle in the region with more than half of the MPs, Senators, Governors and MCAs elected on the party’s ticket during the 2017 polls.
Even though Wiper has been reaching out to other elected leaders who managed to get elected under Jubilee ticket, this latest attack on its party leader may work against concerted efforts to have all elected leaders in the region under Wiper Party.
The two have since not been in good terms. Last week, Kivutha accused Kalonzo of using his cronies to insult him in public and on social media.
Speaking on Thursday during a tour to launch water projects in Kilili-Kalamba ward, Kibwana said Kalonzo’s ‘antagonizing party brigade’ has been on a malicious campaign against his achievements.
“You will not find them where people are discussing development agenda like here, but they have been moving from one funeral gathering to another across the county insulting me,” said Kibwana.
On the other hand, Ukambani governors appear to be echoing Professor Kibwana’s sentiments after they formed an economic block whose purpose is to economically and politically lobby for interest of the region, without Kalonzo Musyoka.
Kivutha and Mutua have so far expressed their interests to contest for the top seat from the region signaling the end of Kalonzo’s dominance of Ukambani politics. Kalonzo has insisted that he is still in the race to succeed President Uhuru in 2022.