Is Kalonzo goofing politically again? – Weekly Citizen

Kalonzo Musyoka, the former VP to Mwai Kibaki and longstanding minister in the government of Daniel Moi is legendarily known for his penchant to sleep too long on a decision and when he finally makes it, makes it so late that it does not serve the purpose it would have served had he beaten the iron when it was hot, figuratively speaking. What Kalonzo should have done in 2012, he did last week a whole eight years too late. To the utter dismay of those who in 2012 and 2017 pleaded with Kalonzo to ditch Raila Odinga and hitch his horses with Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, Kalonzo announced last week, two short years to end of Uhuru’s two terms that he would now join Uhuru. Because of waiting too long, those who have always wanted Kalonzo working with Uhuru and Ruto from day one say, Kalonzo has sold himself at throwaway price having become damaged goods of no political value.

Enoch Wambua

Had he made the move when the time was right and he was fresh goods, Kambas say, Kalonzo would have bargained for any position in the government apart of course from the post of president and deputy president slots Uhuru and Ruto had already designated for themselves. As it is, however, Kalonzo is getting into the government when all the positions including that of all messengers and sweepers have been filled by Uhuru and Ruto people. If Kalonzo was to get any position as a reward for his backing of the government that Uhuru does not consider too valuable but for the optics, it would mean that there would have to be some real big shots chopped at the top to clear space for him. Kamba tycoon Peter Muthoka, the man who has elbowed out former senator Johnson Muthama from Kalonzo inner core is the man behind Kalonzo moves. Kitui Senator Enock Wambua also being instrumental.

Peter Muthoka

There are however those who say that Kalonzo is cashing in financially as Uhuru is paying him to have his Wiper MPs back Uhuru against his deputy. It is not clear how much Kalonzo is pocketing to auction his party weight in parliament but some rumours have it is pegged on the number of MPs he can whip to dance to Uhuru’s tune in parliament. It is against this background that some MPs have reportedly expressed their objections to the deal saying that they must get a cut of the deal or else they will not toe the Wiper line saying that matters in parliament are beyond Kalonzo’s control. There is however fear amongst some legislators especially those who are holding parliamentary house committees that they will be taken the route of Kipchumba Murkomen and Kindiki Kithure. What puzzled many more however being Kalonzo’s assertion that the deal with Uhuru “does not break our agreement under Nasa”.

Johnston Muthama

Such remarks, a long time Kalonzo ally who did not want to be named said, point to a man in dreamland who should be rudely woken up by splashing ice-cold water on his face. The agreement with Raila in Nasa, the ally told Kalonzo is probably somewhere in the Ruai sewer having been used as toilet paper at Capital Hill. If Raila has not honoured any agreement written or verbal all his life, the man who has been one of the most vocal Kalonzo supporters even going physical on those who oppose Kalonzo in Ukambani, the last agreement being merely three years ago, asked how and why would Raila would the agreement this time around. Even if Raila walked the road to Damascus a million times, he told Kalonzo, he would never undergo any transformation, not even skin shallow. But it is not the timing of the deal that is troubling Kambas. In any case, many know that it is inconsequential as far as goodies to Ukambani goes.

Philip Kaloki

What is gravely concerning Kambas is that after eight years in the opposition, Kambas are once again poised to spend yet another five years in the opposition should Kalonzo throw his lot with the formation that Uhuru is trying to cobble up. With all indications pointing to the most likely probability of Ruto winning the presidency in 2022, Kambas are now seriously considering the possibility of having a tribal pointman other than Kalonzo to take the community to the high table of political power bargaining with the eyes firmly fixed to Ruto’s direction. Although others say that Kalonzo is taking sides with Uhuru in the hope that Uhuru could just say Kalonzo tosha, there are those of the view that Kalonzo is overstretching his hopes. To start with, Uhuru backyard that Uhuru would purport to have file behind Kalonzo is unflinchingly stuck to Ruto.

Mumo Matemu

Indeed, Ruto is more welcome in Central than Uhuru who fearing being snubbed at best and heckled at worst has not been to his own backyard more than 10 times since he was elected and when he does it, he flies as opposed to driving. But if Kalonzo has no chance of bagging the Central vote, Raila zero chance of getting it. It is still fresh in the minds of Central people that only two years ago Raila was declaring total economic annihilation on them with his resist movement that had his followers boycott all businesses, services and goods associated with Jubilee. It is still beyond fathoming to many of them that Uhuru who three years ago traversed the length and breadth of Central pleading with them to rescue him from this mad man chocking his neck is now heaping praises to the mundu muguruki of yesterday.

Ezekiel Mutua

And even if Kalonzo was eyeing any other post other than the presidency, in the Uhuru-Raila axis, he would have to contend with the number four office because the first three are preserved for Uhuru, Raila and Gideon Moi. There are even those who say that Raila will certainly bolt out of the grouping because it is Gideon who is slated to get the biggest seat. On the other hand, if Kalonzo went to Ruto, he would be either number two or three assuming that Musalia Mudavadi was in that alliance. This although there are others who say that Ruto will have to designate a Kikuyu his number two or three for the votes that Kikuyus are going to give him. It is worth noting that the announcement by Kalonzo has not caused a buzz in Ukambani were even barefoot villagers feel like they have a better pulse of the national politics than Kalonzo.

Geoffrey Muluvi

It was only a bunch of Nairobi-based rent-seekers calling themselves Kamba professionals led by Daniel Yumbya who backed the move by the Wiper leader.The so-called professionals were however universally dismissed across Kambaland with Kambas wondering who gave the charlatans the authority to say they were the voice of Kambas when some of them cannot even speak for their wives let alone their villages. Except for Philip Kaloki, the rest, according to their relatives and village mates would not even give a glass of water to a starving neighbour as they belong to the crop of Kambas that is imbued with what Kambas call kiima or ill-will. They included Geoffrey Muluvi, Mumo Matemu, Timothy King’ondu, Julius Kyambi, John Mwendwa, Ezekiel Mutua and Daniel Kombo. Incidentally, all of them except two are professors yet none of them has authored even a nursery school book.