Truth on Ukambani leaders and State visits
By Paul Mutua, June 28, 2025A member of the Ukambani delegation that visited Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at his Karen residence on Monday has publicly admitted that the visits are merely driven by a desire for money.
These revelations came on a day that Prof Kindiki is scheduled to start a week-long visit to Machakos County starting today, June 28, 2025, through Monday, June 30, 2025.
The visits begin in Matungulu constituency, tomorrow in Mbooni and on Saturday in Mavoko in Athi River. The Sunday programme is yet to be made public.
Matinyani MCA in Kitui West, Kitheka Munyalo, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, told a gathering in his ward that the visits to State House by MCAs and other regional leaders were purely for personal gain.
Speaking at the St Mathias Mulumba Boys School, Matinyani, during the official commissioning of the administration block, Munyalo told Governor Julius Malombe, who was the chief guest, that he should not be bothered by inconsequential visits by the county MCAs who do it for monetary gain.
“We go there (State House) primarily to gather mushene (intelligence), and eventually we go home with handouts. The earlier the government realised this phenomenon, the better,” the MCA said.
He then turned to Malombe, telling him not to take any offence with him or any other MCA who visited Kindiki, assuring him that political leadership in the county would not waver in its support towards his development agenda for Kitui people.
Earlier on in his social media platform, Munyalo had accused Speaker Kevin Kinengo, who led MCAs in the visit, of portraying himself as an inconsistent and incompetent individual whose two-year tenure in office is regrettable.
The MCA, who is the assembly’s Minority Narc Party Whip, said it is about time before the impeachment motion against the embattled speaker was tabled in the House.
Kindiki’s prominent Kenya Kwanza delegation in Wiper party zone strongholds is yet another move to “clip the political wings of Kalonzo Musyoka”.
The DP visit is seen as a clear indicator to segregate Kalonzo from voters.
During the tours, Kindiki will preside over fundraisers for women’s groups in the three constituencies.
Addressing a consultative forum of MCAs drawn from Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties at the DP’s Karen residence on Monday, the DP said he will embark on the tour to champion unity of purpose and rally the residents behind a broad-based ideology.
“There is an urgent need to expedite key national laws to enhance County Assemblies, ensure their independence and improve the working conditions of their members, as a vital step toward reinforcing the role of devolution in the nation’s progress,” Kindiki said.
The 100 delegation led by county assembly speakers, Kevin Kinengo (Kitui) and Anne Kiusya (Machakos) assured the DP that they will team up with the national government for effective service delivery, development and overall success of devolution in their counties.
“We shall continue consulting and collaborating with the government to bring development to Ukambani. We seek to prioritise matters of development and how the national government can continue engaging the MCAs, who are the grassroots leaders, to drive development for our people,” Kinengo said.
The speaker said Article 6 (2) of the Constitution 2010 states that the national and county governments are distinct, interdependent and must conduct their mutual relations based on consultation and cooperation.
There is a diverse interpretation that most regional UDA politicians and government officials would not wish Kalonzo to join Ruto’s administration for fear of being overshadowed. The group, lacking bargaining power, feels their proximity and relevance to Ruto will be ruined should the President embrace the former VP.
Another view opined that in an event Kalonzo joined the government, the now UDA front-runners would lose political mileage in their constituencies and counties in the countdown to the next general polls.
Meanwhile, in Mutomo, the DP said he enjoys a respectful relationship with Kalonzo as they are neighbours at their home village and family friends. He further said he was the mentor to Kennedy, Kalonzo’s son, whom he taught in law school.
But the Wiper leader has dismissed Kindiki’s overtures, saying they were meant to divide the new consolidated opposition movement and drive a wedge between him and the Kamba community.