A simmering revolt in Ukambani against Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka has caused panic in NASA, amid fears the mutiny could cost the opposition the presidency.
The opposition brigade, led by presidential candidate Raila Odinga, has now planned mega campaigns in the region in a bid to secure votes. There are fears Jubilee could be gaining ground.
Jubilee has already mapped out areas it wants to focus on to reap from the nominations fallout.
Sources privy to the developments said Jubilee’s plan is to win some seats, though it will be an uphill task.
The candidates who lose will still contribute by wooing voters to Jubilee. The region is believed to control more than two million votes.
“We have had a long history. When Senator David Musila [Kitui] resigned as Wiper chairman and ditched the party, I refused to reply to his letter,” Kalonzo said last Saturday at Migwani during the burial of Musila’s mother.
During his first trip to Ukambani since he was declared the NASA presidential candidate, Raila is expected to hold talks with feuding leaders from the vote-rich bloc.
Kalonzo was forced to tour the region after the party polls to quell the discontent.
He is expected to interrupt the two-week tour of the country to consolidate votes ahead of the August 8 General Election.
The opposition is on a two-week campaign to popularise Raila. Kalonzo will later be joined by the NASA brigade after the two-week tour has been reviewed to address the emerging discontent.
A flurry of meetings lined up are aimed at bonding some of the opposition top guns from the region embroiled in vicious battles following acrimonious Wiper primaries.
Ukambani is identified as a Wiper stronghold under the NASA agreement, but dozens of disgruntled aspirants who lost in the primaries have claimed Kalonzo rigged them out in favour of his allies.
sour relations
The Star has established NASA captains have already held talks with Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama to thaw souring relations with Kalonzo.
The two have previously clashed openly following differences over the nominations.
Muthama accused Kalonzo of imposing candidates on the Kamba people. Musila ditched Wiper in April to vie as an independent candidate.
He claimed he was rigged out during the primaries.
MPs John Munuve (Mwingi North) and Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central) were elected on the Wiper ticket, but ditched the party in 2014 and joined Jubilee.
Francis Nyenze (Kitui West), Marcus Muluvi (Kitui East), Bernard Kitungi (Mwingi West) and Kitui Central’s Makali Mulu have vowed to send Kitui Governor Julius Malombe home.
They accused him of mismanaging county resources. The MPs said they are not happy with the way the Wiper leader signed agreements with Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana (Muungano Party) and former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti (CCU) before the Wiper polls.
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