Kalonzo fights for Ukambani as Ruto makes serious incursion

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is moving fast to ringfence his Ukambani base amid political incursions by Kenya Kwanza top echelons. 

For three days, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has pitched camp in the region, leading a high-profile empowerment drive that has seen tens of millions of shillings in donations flow to women’s groups and community initiatives.

The DP began his whirlwind tour on Thursday in Zombe, Kitui East, before heading to Kaiti in Makueni, then to Machakos Town, Masinga and Kangundo constituencies in Machakos County.

At every stop, Kindiki, accompanied by a string of Kenya Kwanza allied MPs and MCAs, and with financial support from President William Ruto, is seen dishing out donations, a move that political watchers say is a clear bid to woo the Kamba vote ahead of the 2027 elections.

Keen observers of local politics point out that Kindiki's incursions, which are said to be preparations ahead of the President's visit in the region, are meant to eat into Kalonzo's support base and woo the Kamba vote to Ruto's side. 

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However, Kalonzo, arguably the community's kingpin, is not sitting idle. In a show of political muscle, the former Vice President has been rallying crowds across the region, alongside opposition allies such as former DP Rigathi Gachagua and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa among others. 

The leaders have held a series of rallies where they seem to electrify the residents with their “one term”, slogan, a political gig aimed at President Ruto. 

From Tseikuru, Matuu, Machakos town, Mlolongo to Emali, Kalonzo’s rallies have drawn massive crowds, with many political observers noting they have outshone those of Kindiki.

His camp insists that Wiper’s influence in Ukambani remains unshaken, saying that his grip in the region will only get firmer as the country gears up for the next elections.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua notes that the people of the region have no choice but to throw their weight behind the Wiper leader, as there is nothing for the region to celebrate in Ruto's administration. 

“Ukambani has nothing to show under Ruto’s leadership. If the President has chosen to marginalize and punish our people because Kalonzo refused to bow to his regime, then so be it. We leave that to his conscience," Wambua said. 

The senator, a staunch Kalonzo ally, believes the Wiper boss is now better positioned than ever to clinch the presidency. He urged the region's residents to rally solidly behind him.

On Friday, Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi slammed Kindiki’s “handouts politics” and called for policy-driven empowerment.

Speaking after officiating the opening of Machakos Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show, Mwangangi said it was unfortunate that President Ruto had resorted to political shortcuts after destroying the previously established channels for socioeconomic empowerment.

“The real empowerment is not what politicians are doing. President Kibaki and (Vice President) Kalonzo created the Women Enterprise Fund, and also created the Youth Fund. We need to go back to institutionalism to ensure equitable distribution of resources across the board,” the DG said.

Mwangangi claimed the President and his deputy were being misled by some politicians into ignoring the need to ensure institutions were well-resourced to undertake their various mandates.

The DG affirmed Kalonzo’s position that it was an act of betrayal for a section of local leaders to attend Ruto’s meeting at State House to beg for development.

During his serial political rallies across Ukambani, Kalonzo has strongly rallied residents to reject all the leaders associated with President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Observers say Kalonzo is particularly keen on Machakos County, where out of the eight constituencies, his party, Wiper, managed to secure only three parliamentary seats: Matungulu, Mavoko and Kathiani.

“Being the economic and political capital of Ukambani, Kalonzo views Machakos County as a very important and strategic political base where he cannot afford to lose grip. Moving into 2027, we are likely to see heightened activities of Wiper party within Machakos territory because it will literally be a battleground come 2027,” says political analyst Pascal Ndei.

But Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda (UDA) says Ukambani region will not be held ransom by one individual who has repeatedly misled the community in numerous election cycles.

“You cannot tell us to wait until 2027 to work with the next government yet we are taxpayers who are entitled to development even today. The community should rise to the occasion and say no to politics of deprivation,” Ms Mutinda said.

As the 2027 political temperature begins to rise, one thing is clear: the battle for Ukambani, which appears to be a swing vote, is officially on.

Prof Kindiki, however, intensified his tour of Ukambani region in Machakos Town constituency where he declared President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government will account for its time in office come the next general election.

Addressing a multitude of residents at Scott Christian University where he led dozens of Kenya Kwanza-allied MPs in fundraising for local women groups’ empowerment, Kindiki said President Ruto will have fulfilled a great deal of the pre-election pledges he made to Kenyans in the run-up to the 2022 general election.

“Come the next electioneering period, the Kenya Kwanza government, under the leadership of President William Ruto, will account for its time in office. We know we are not yet there but we will be able to face Kenyans and show them what we will have done for the country in our transformation agenda,” Kindiki said.

The DP, likewise, challenged those in the opposition to shun politics of ethnic balkanization and empty rhetoric and craft their agenda and market it to Kenyans.

“Kenyans will judge us by what we deliver. Our friends in the opposition should focus on selling their manifesto to Kenyans and not waste time engaging in ethnic mobilization laced with hate mongering,” said Kindiki.

He said President Ruto’s agenda is to unite the country and empower citizens in line with Kenya Kwanza’s bottom-up transformation agenda.

He singled out the government’s intervention in the agriculture sector through subsidized farm inputs, which, he said, helped in addressing the challenge of high cost of food that was experienced during the transition period.

“The interventions made by President Ruto yielded a drastic reduction of our staple food and reduced up to 70 per cent of our maize imports. Prices of maize floor reduced from a record high of Sh230, down to the current average of Sh130, or thereabouts,” said the DP.

Kindiki announced that the government will begin construction of a modern retail market in Machakos town at the cost of Sh450 million and another one in Matuu, Yatta Constituency that will cost the taxpayer Sh350 million.

The DP was accompanied by MPs Caleb Mule (Machakos Town), Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West) Fabian Muli (Kangundo) and Sabina Chege (nominated). Others included Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Betty Maina (Murang’a County) and Eric Wamumbi (Mathira).