Kalonzo Musyoka, the Wiper leader who declared that he will run for President, appears to be in serious trouble because Kivutha Kibwana, Makueni Governor is opposed to Kalonzo’s return to Azimio La Umoja.
The Raila-Odinga led camp in Azimio, has issued fresh demands for Kalonzo’s re-entry into Azimio, impossible demands which might not be met by the Azimio’s leadership.
Acording to a statement by Kivutha Kibwana, Azimio must consult with the region’s leaders before offering Kalonzo any concessions. The implication of Kivutha’s position is that the re-entry of Kalonzo into Azimio is not automatic while the relevance of Kivutha’s statement is that the return of Kalonzo Musyoka into the Azimio camp is also not guaranteed.
“Dialogue with AZIMIO’s leadership must involve those of us who have been selling Azimio in the region; those who did the heavy lifting, and Wiper. Fairness/decency are virtues,” Kivutha tweeted.
Kibwana said that even after the departure of Kalonzo from Azimio, Ukambani leaders have continued to mobilize for Azimio. This statement pointed to the view that Azimio does not need Kalonzo who is known to be Kibwana’s arch rival. While Kalonzo holds no position in Azimio, Kibwana was recently appointed as head of Azimio’s regional campaigns in Ukambani. The implication is that currently, Kibwana has more say in Azimio than Kalonzo.
According to insiders in touch with Azimio Global, there have been serious infighting among Ukambani leaders over the “Kalonzo factor”. The problem is that a group of leaders believe that Kalonzo will be more disruptive in Azimio because his re-entry into the Coalition will re-kindle rivalries between him and Kibwana. Currently, Kibwana has the upper hand and he is trying his best to ensure that Kalonzo remains out of range of Azimio’s inner circle where he enjoys influence together with Charity Ngilu.
Both Kibwana and Ngilu have been fighting fierce supremacy battles in the background and the concern within the Kibwana camp is that if Kalonzo returns into the Azimio fold with an elevated position in government, the two Ukambani stalwarts will have problems since they may have to serve under Kalonzo.
Kibwana had hinted that Kalonzo wanted him out of Azimio, adding that working with Kalonzo under Azimio will be impossible. It is notable that Kibwana abandoned Wiper Party in August last year to join the little-known Muungano Party which he has steered into the Azimio camp.
“It is proving impossible to work with Kalonzo Musyoka in Azimio in Ukambani. After he joined us, he has wanted me out of all Azimio structures. I have no choice but to be at peace with this sad reality. History will ultimately judge all of us,” Kibwana tweeted.
Kalonzo is a Presidential candidate in the August 9th Election after he declined an offer from Raila Odinga to head the Cabinet in a Raila government. Kalonzo left Azimio after he rejected the choice of Martha Karua as Raila’s running mate. Kalonzo had expected that he would be the one to Deputize Raila Odinga.
Team Azimio