Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has narrated how poverty politics have been used to lock the Ukambani region out of government for years.
In a scathing statement on Tuesday, June 10, Mutua accused the Wiper Party Leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, of perpetuating the Political Poverty Strategy (PPS) in the region. He said the strategy has prevented development projects in Ukambani by perpetually being in the opposition.
"The slow pace of development in the Ukambani region compared to areas such as Nyanza, Mt. Kenya, and North Eastern is not accidental. It is part of a deliberate strategy by Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka to maintain psychological control over the Kamba people," he stated.
"The Political Poverty Strategy (PPS) is a political formula for acquiring and maintaining power by depriving followers of development. The aim is to make them view a particular leader as their “saviour” and eternal hope."
According to Mutua, this strategy is rooted in the political logic that an economically empowered population is harder to control and mislead.
He relayed that this philosophy was being peddled under the guise of a popular Kamba slogan, "vomwe na vayetwa", which translates to "Resist and be hardened", which he took to mean that poverty should be normalised and endured.
The CS cited ODM party leader Raila Odinga's history of handshakes with the government that have substantially benefited the Nyanza region, claiming that Kalonzo has failed to follow in his footsteps.
As such, he called for a revolution of his people, advising that they not let one individual derail their community's political and economic standing.
However, he advised against disrespecting Kalonzo over this alleged sabotage, emphasising that his aim was merely to expose him.
"I emphasise that no one should insult leaders, and that Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka must be treated with respect and decorum. But he must also be exposed," he stated.
"His actions are directly linked to the death of mothers during childbirth, the deepening poverty of our elders, and the hopelessness facing our youth. People are suffering because of the Political Poverty Strategy (PPS) promoted by Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka."
He further stated that this was why Kalonzo opposed projects such as roads, dams, water supply, electricity, education, hospitals, farming support, job creation, and more to keep the region overdependent on him.
Mutua backed his claims, citing a recent visit to Kalonzo's home in Tseikuru by a section of legislators that exposed the poor status of his neighbourhood despite having served as a vice president before.
To liberate the region from this mindset, he called for the disposal of Kalonzo's"vomwe na vayetwa", mantra and adopting a new one, "vololoe na mutua", which translates to "liberate and transform."
