Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has lined up aspirants, to face Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party, in the fight for control of Ukambani region ahead of the 2022 General Election.

Muthama, who has since fallen out with the former Vice President, hosted political aspirants, professionals and businessmen from Machakos county at his Mua home, in a calculated move to draw a parallel political line up aimed at dislodging Wiper’s dominance in the region.

The former lawmaker, who is working in favour of Deputy President William Ruto, paraded businessmen Mwaya Kitavi and Donald Mwendwa to oust Wiper organising secretary and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui from a position he has been holding since 2013. 

Sponsor candidates

“In 2022, I will have a party that will sponsor candidates from the president to the MCAs.

Let him (Kalonzo) go his way as I pursue mine and see who will be a winner after 2022 elections” said Muthama with brimming pride gushed.

He added: “In the coming weeks we will be rolling out such forums  in Makueni and Kitui to present a team that will bring proper leadership in the region.”

The meeting was also attended by Ruto allied MPs Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) and Kitui East’s Nimrod Mbai who have been holding weekly consultative meetings across the region to drum support for Ruto.

Muthama who quit Wiper has also lined up former hopefuls Magdalene Ndawa and Thomas Musau to dislodge Kalonzo’s loyalist and a two-term Matungulu legislator Stephen Mule whom the former senator claimed to have sponsored in the previous elections.

Kangundo parliamentary seat being held by Fabian Muli, Muthama is fronting former MP Kyengo Katatha and former aspirant under Jubilee Party ticket Rose Wambua. Muli, a DP ally inexplicably skipped Muthama’s event.  

Other constituencies Muthama expressed interest include Yatta by fronting KNUT branch boss Kasimba Ngui, Mavoko Constituency and over 20 ward assembly members in Machakos.

The Ruto allied MP’s have been trailing their guns on the former vice president and they claim that it would be fatal for the community to head for the next general election under Kalonzo’s stewardship. Mbai, however, claimed Ruto allies were not in any competition with Kalonzo.