'Msitese Kalonzo', Muthama tells Uhuru, Raila

By Judy Jerono United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman Johnson Muthama has cautioned President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga against mistreating and disrespecting Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka. Muthama, in a video shared on Twitter, laments that the former Vice President was being unfairly mistreated by other partners within the Azimio One Kenya Coalition. The coalition brings together at least 26 parties, among them Jubilee, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper, Narc Kenya, and Democratic Action Party (DAP-K). Kalonzo, alongside Raila, and Uhuru are the senior-most politicians in the coalition, but Muthama feels the Wiper party leader is not getting the respect he deserves. “Uhuru nataka kukuambia, wewe na Raila msitese Kalonzo kupita kiasi. Kalonzo amekuja muungane, mpatieni heshima,” said the UDA Machakos gubernatorial aspirant. This is loosely translated as, “Uhuru I want to tell you and Raila, don’t mistreat Kalonzo. He came you join hands, respect him.” Muthama notes that he is respected within UDA and the same should be the case for the former Vice President in Azimio One Kenya. He has warned that should the mistreatment and disrespect against Kalonzo continue, he will convince him to quit the coalition and join UDA. “Even if you are not giving him (Kalonzo) anything, don’t despise him and allow the likes of Ngilu (Kitui Governor) to insult him. I can come to that table you’re insulting Kalonzo and carry him to UDA,” Muthama said. The former Machakos Senator further said any plans to reduce Kalonzo’s influence in the Ukambani region will not succeed. [caption id="attachment_12795" align="alignnone" width="750"] File image of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption] Since joining Azimio One Kenya, the coalition has been facing internal wrangles, with Makueni Governor Kivuta Kibwana recently admitting that it has been almost impossible for the leaders from Ukambani to work with Kalonzo within the coalition. "It is proving impossible to work with @skmusyoka 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 @RailaOdinga," he tweeted on April 20, 2022. Aside from Wiper, Kibwana, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua who is also the Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader and Ngilu are other leaders from Ukamabani that are within the coalition.