During the run-up to the 2013 General Election, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto had hinted at teaming up with former VP Kalonzo Musyoka.
Former Defence Minister David Musila, who was Kalonzo's long-serving aide reveals in his book, Seasons of Hope, the blunder that cost the former VP Uhuru's favour during the campaign period.
After a prayer rally in Ruiru, the duo privately challenged Kalonzo to invite them for prayers in Ukambani and a meeting was hastily organised the following weekend in Machakos County.
During the rally, former Machakos Senator, Johnstone Muthama, uttered the phrase “Kweekwa ali, tukeeka ali," which Uhuru was told was a cryptic message meaning (Once these people (Uhuru and Ruto) get jailed at The Hague, Kalonzo shall take over).
Fred Muteti, a young man from Kalonzo's team, is the person who explained to Uhuru later that night at a meeting in Kitengela, why Muthama's remarks had excited the crowd so much.
After that meeting, it was agreed that Kalonzo was no longer welcome to Uhuru and Ruto's rallies and former minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere was tasked with delivering the message.
Kalonzo and Musila then went to see the then President Mwai Kibaki and asked him to prevail on Uhuru not to abandon him and also to intervene on Muthama’s planned ouster as Government Chief Whip in Parliament.
Kalonzo continued attending the prayer rallies and Muthama retained his position but they still made the VP feel unwelcome in the public functions.
Musila wrote that on one occasion while driving to Ngong for a rally, Uhuru and Ruto actually overtook Kalonzo's motorcade to ensure they did not appear to be arriving together.
The duo would later extend an olive branch to the wiper leader, offering him a position as the National Assembly Majority Leader on condition that he dropped his presidential bid.
Unfortunately, Kalonzo had already publicly announced that he would not defend his parliamentary seat so there was no way he could go back on his word.
Eventually, the Ukambani kingpin teamed up with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and became his running mate in the election that they lost to Uhuru and Ruto.
