Makueni Governor, Kivutha Kibwana, has bowed to what he terms pressure from Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, to vacate any influential role in the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.
In a statement dated Wednesday, April 20, Kibwana noted that Kalonzo had been pushing him and other leaders from the larger Lower Eastern out of Azimio's structures.
Resigning to fate, the second-term governor stated that he had suffered enough humiliation and had to give in. Kibwana further wished the Azimio presidential candidate well in the August 9 polls.
'It is proving impossible to work with Kalonzo Musyoka in Azimio in Ukambani. After he joined us, he has wanted especially 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. May it be kind," he stated.
The Muungano party leader was among the first leaders to join Azimio together with his Machakos counterpart, Alfred Mutua, and governor Charity Ngilu of Kitui.
The three have previously accused the former Vice President of causing friction within the coalition even as they formed the Mwanzo Mpya faction within the coalition. At the time, they threatened to reconsider their association with the coalition until some of their demands were met.
Upon the intervention of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the faction agreed to drop their demands as Azimio structures were expanded to accommodate some of them.
Consequently, the Wiper party wrote a letter to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties demanding that the registration of the coalition be halted, citing changes in the coalition documents.
On their part, allies of Kalonzo have accused the three governors of undermining the former VP within the region and the coalition.
While addressing a rally over the weekend, Kitui Senator, Enoch Wambua claimed that the governors were opposed to Kalonzo's candidature as Raila's running mate.
He promised that they would work to scuttle their plans even as they demanded that Raila names Kalonzo as his running mate.
"There are so many people who are bringing trouble down here. The problem with this thing is Mutua, Kibwana, Ngilu and the Prof Makau Mutua. I want to make it very clear, that we are not playing any games. The road to Kalonzo's presidency in 2027 starts now," he stated.
