Outgoing Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has hit back at Wiper Democratic Movement Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, claiming that he was overrated and held no political mileage in the country.
In a TV interview on Wednesday, March 2, , Kibwana claimed that Kalonzo's political influence in the Ukambani region and in the country started dipping after the December 2007 general election.
The second-term governor claimed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, was more popular than Kalonzo, even in his own backyard in Kenya's Eastern region.
"Politics is a question of numbers, and I think Kalonzo's strength is increasingly overrated since 2007. We have been going round and Raila leads in terms of support and even as the favorite to be Azimio's flag bearer.
"If I were him, I would really rethink. He has the option to retire from politics, which I do not think he will, or join Azimio and negotiate with others in good faith because if you want to negotiate with people, you do not threaten them," Kibwana noted.
The Makueni County boss noted that the One Kenya Alliance Principal's political might has many a time been boosted by media coverage. He claimed that Kalonzo's good relationship with the state has helped keep his head high in the murky political waters.
Taking a swipe at the former Vice President, Kibwana pronounced that the latter stood no chance against either him, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, or Kitui Governor, Charity Ngilu, in a ballot contest.
"Mutua beat him the other day in a by-election in Kitui. We (Muungano Party) beat him in the Nguu by-election. In Makueni we did not concede any seats as he did to Jubilee in 2017.
Kibwana opined that Kalonzo relied on the backing of other leaders but showed no gratitude and went around thumping his chest. The governor foresaw that Wiper and its leader will not fare as well as it has previously done before.
On March 1, the OKA principal hit out at Ngilu, Kibwana and Musyoka who have been at loggerheads with him over his conditions to join the Azimio La Umoja political faction. He told them that had no right to advise him on matters political negotiations with Odinga.
He alleged that the three governors were simply afraid of their political future which was dark without him.
"Two of them are going home. Ngilu is seeking re-election and she knows that without my support, she is going nowhere. In fact, she may consider not running for governor because the ground is terrible against her," he remarked.
Kalonzo is reluctant to join Azimio la Umoja and argues that Raila Odinga betrayed him, insisting that the former PM must endorse him in honour of their 207 Memorandum of Understanding. Kibwana was witness of the deal that now appears to scuttle chances of Raila and Kalonzo joining forces ahead of the polls in August.
