The decision by Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party leader and Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua to shift his allegiance from Azimio-One Kenya Coalition to Kenya Kwanza has sent hundreds of his party candidates back to the drawing board.

The candidates will be forced to battle with rivals who will now find themselves under the same umbrella, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The 261 candidates spread across the country had anchored their campaign on Azimio-One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga, and had gone ahead and printed posters with Raila’s portrait in a bid to win the hearts of their supporters.

Most of the candidates did not want any association with Kenya Kwanza coalition presidential candidate and Deputy President William Ruto.

Among the 261 MCC candidates are 42 for Members of Parliament (MPs), 209 Members of County Assembly (MCAs), four woman representatives, four senators, and one for the governorship.

With the new twist, some of the MCC strong candidates have found themselves in the same camp with competitors flying United Democratic Alliance (UDA) an issue that is likely to put them into an awkward situation. For instance, Mutua’s Chief of Staff Mwengi Mutuse who is touted to be a front runner for the Kibwezi constituency seat has found himself in the same camp with UDA’s James Mbaluka, who is his fierce opponent.

Opinion is divided across the political landscape with Mutuse taking to his social media to advise his opponent to honourably withdraw from the race other than wait for a rather humiliating defeat on the ballot come August.

“To my supporters, I want to assure you that I am firmly in the race and I am confident with God and the people of Kibwezi West that I will emerge victorious on August 9.  To my UDA-affiliated opponent, tuliza boli. If you know you can’t win with me in the race, just do the honorable thing and withdraw from the race then we shall take care of you,” said Mutuse in a statement.

 In Machakos town constituency, a titanic political battle is set to unfold between Muvuti MCA Caleb Mule and three-term MP and DP Ruto diehard Victor Munyaka.

The duo is caught up in a neck-and-neck contest with Mule using the change platform to dislodge Munyaka who has held the seat since 2007.

“In light of the recent events concerning our political party MCC, I would like to assure all my supporters to remain focused and the journey to parliament is intact. Bringing change to Machakos constituency is key and we are in the race until we clinch the Machakos parliamentary seat” said Mule.

Square it out

Mutua’s party members and UDA are set to square it out in both Machakos governorship and senate seat. Mutua’s deputy Francis Maliti who is seeking to inherit his boss will square it out with UDA chairman and first Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama.

Similarly, first speaker of the County Assembly of Machakos Benard Mung’ata of MCC is expected to square it out with his lawyer colleague in Machakos senate contest Kyatha Mbaluka. Initially, the duo was eyeing the County Governorship.

 In 2017 General Election, MCC party was barely a year old bagged four MPs, one Governor, and 38 MCA’s countrywide.

Mutua on Monday broke ranks with Azimio over claims his party risked being shadowed by Wiper party over the looming zoning. Mutua has categorically observed there was intent by Azimio to kill small parties by zoning certain areas for affiliate parties  an action that pushed him out of the coalition.

“We want an opportunity so that we can to grow our party. It is not about the competition on who is bigger or who is smaller but is about representation for our people as a political party,” said Mutua.

Mutua said that people ought to be given choices and by joining Kenya Kwanza was one way of casting the net wide to ensure the region is in Government regardless of the outcome.

 “Ukambani is an important region with many votes and those votes do not have to go to one person, we need to share the votes in order to have positions. Kamba nation has been out of Government for 10 years due to Kalonzo factor of going one way, we want to ensure our people are in Government” said Mutua.

 While dismissing critics who have gone out guns blazing after his move to decamp to Kenya Kwanza, Mutua said he had a political consequence Ruto required to win Ukambani voters.

“Since when I moved out of Azimio, they have insulted me, spread propaganda and all manner of things because I got an impact and people follow us,” said Mutua.