Machakos, Kenya: The clergy in Ukambani and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka have stepped in to reconcile the warring Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and Governor Alfred Mutua.
Church bishops Wednesday initiated talks aimed at brokering peace between the two leaders so that they could bury their differences and work together. The meeting convened by Machakos Catholic Bishop Martin Kivuva and Kalonzo was held at the former’s residence at Katoloni Estate in Machakos town.
Muthama attended the closed-door meeting that lasted several hours while Dr Mutua sent apologies. Kalonzo said Mutua’s was held up in the preparations for the Cecafa Senior Challenge tournament to be hosted in the town from today. Present were Bishops Joseph Kanuku (ACK), Benard Nguyo (AIC), Paul Mutua (Redeemed), Meshack Mukwilu (ABC) and East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Peter Mathuki.
Bishop Kivuva said they had to step in for the sake of unity as the differences between the two Machakos leaders was in the public domain. “We have decided to come in as church leaders and bring other leaders together for the good of the region,” said Kivuva. Kalonzo admitted there has been misunderstanding between Muthama and Mutua but observed the issues surrounding their differences were thin. He said Mutua was expected to give his side of the story in another meeting scheduled for December 16. “I have from today put a cover restraining the two from fighting in public until we hear both parties,” he said. Kalonzo termed yesterday’s meeting historic saying never has there been such a bringing together of the clergy and political leaders.
The former VP said the step they had taken to reconcile the two is important adding that Muthama had confirmed he had no personal grudge with Mutua. “What is important is now to see how the two leaders could reconcile and work together in propelling the county to the next level,” he said.
Kalonzo attributed the differences between the two to devolution which he said is a new phenomenon whose “settling” effects are the cause of wars even elsewhere. He differed with Mutua on his stand against the Wiper Member of County Assembly for the Mua ward by-election Francis Ngunga.
Last Saturday, the governor publicly declared his opposition to Ngunga’s candidature and said he would support the CCU candidate Nzeki Munyaka, a brother to Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka. Kalonzo directed Ngunga to work with the governor. On last week’s ultimatum by Wiper MPs to delink themselves from the senator, Kalonzo said none of the leaders had approached him over the matter.
Finish wiper “Nobody has told me about the said ultimatum. You don’t issue ultimatums through the Press,” joked the former VP. He announced that Wiper party would hold a two-day retreat in Naivasha from today. Recently, Ukambani politics took a dramatic twist with leaders calling on Kalonzo Musyoka to sever his ties with Muthama. The leaders led by Mutua claimed Muthama has hatched a plan to “finish” Kalonzo politically by setting him against elected leaders.
-standardmedia.co.ke
