It is no longer arguable. Wind of change is furiously blowing through Ukambani; and the aftermath could be game-changing.
When a section of leaders from Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party started dancing to Jubilee tunes late last year, many dismissed this as a storm in a teacup. Fast forward to June 2017 and the storm has evolved into a Tsunami that that is irresistibly sweeping the Wiper family away from the opposition towards government. You can as well call the government home, as this is where most Kambas feel they belong.
Here is a community that enjoyed the warmth of the Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki regimes, with leaders such as Paul Ngei, Mulu Mutisya, Charity Ngilu and Kalonzo keenly safeguarding its interests underneath the warmth of government wings.
When Kambas seemed to have accidentally departed from this tradition in 2007, with Kalonzo on the losing ODM side, they were-against all odds-presented with the vice presidency on a silver platter under the coalition government.
That was until Kalonzo made a terrific miscalculation. Word has it that despite turning his back on Jubilee and siding with a losing opposition again in 2013; he was offered the chance to command one third of the government in Jubilee. But he declined the golden offer, plunging the Kamba nation into the unfamiliar territory of opposition politics for five years. It seems this has now come back to haunt him.
Unwilling to be locked out any longer, the region seems to be fast embracing the ruling coalition, shepherded by key local leaders. What started as a mere flirtation with the government by some MPs has since turned into a mighty show of intent, with no less than David Musila and Francis Nyenze publicly backing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.
These are not ordinary politicians. Musila, who until recently served as the party chairman, is a father figure deeply respected in Ukambani.
By sammy Kwinga
