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Citizen Weekly

Sunday 14 December 2014

WHY MUTHAMA WANTS CORD TO DISSOLVE INTO ONE POLITICAL PARTY

In a surprise move, Machakos senator Johnson Muthama has called for the dissolution of all political parties affiliated to Cord and called for the formation of one strong political outfit to counter Jubilee come 2017 general elections.
The senator said that this was the only way the coalition can beat the Jubilee coalition in the 2017 polls.
“This has worked in other African countries and we should wake up and strategise on how to defeat our rivals,” Muthama said.
Muthama said there was need for the Cord co-principals to shelve their individual party interests and work towards forming one strong political party that will bring all Kenyans together.
Addressing faithful at  Mavoloni Catholic Church, Muthama  said that although Cord coalition was a formation of varied political parties, it had continued to divide Kenyans and to weaken the political clout of the leaders.
“This is a political disease. We should stop cheating ourselves that we are united when Wiper for example is recruiting members in Nyanza, ODM in Ukambani and Ford Kenya in Mombasa. This is total malice,” thundered Muthama.
He threatened to ditch the coalition should Raila, Kalonzo and Wetang’ula fail to join hands and form a one political party for the 2017 polls.
“Failure to this, I will either quit politics or find another option because I now don’t see the reason why I should go to North Eastern  and waste my time seeking for votes that won’t be there,”  he added.
Muthama said that there should never be a repeat scenario of what was witnessed in Mombasa in the last general election.
“In Mombasa, two front runners of the gubernatorial seat where both under the Cord coalition but on different parties,” he said.
Muthama was accompanied by Machakos deputy governor Bernard Kiala and 15 MCAs.
Wiper party politics has begun to take shape with a section of Wiper leaders in Machakos county calling on Muthama to go for the chairmanship of the party.
A number of Wiper MCAs who spoke to Weekly Citizen recently said that Muthama was best suited for the seat owing to his dedication in upholding the party values and principles.
Machakos Central MCA Cornelius Kitheka said that Muthama would ensure political discipline in the party if elected to the post of chairmanship.
Kitheka said that the party currently needed leaders of firm decisions and who would go beyond anything to ensure that party values and principles are adhered to.
He said that the recent misgivings in the party were as a result of slowed disciplinary actions against errant members.
His sentiments were echoed by nominated MCAs Alice Mukonyo and Caro Musembi who said that they would rally behind senator Muthama for the party’s chairmanship.
Kiala pointed out that  discipline of the party would require people like Muthama.
He said that the election of Muthama as the party’s chair will also bring in regional balance in the leadership of the party.
Kiala said that the party was currently losing grip in the region and will need people like Muthama to revamp it.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that some leaders are pushing for Governor Alfred Mutua to be the party secretary general. Muthama and Mutua have been at loggerheads over the manner in which the affairs of Machakos county are managed and it would be interesting to see how the two would work together in Wiper were they to be elected to those positions.
In a recent function attended by the Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Governor Mutua and other leaders in Ikombe ward, the Mwingi Central MP Joe Mutambu suggested that Kalonzo picks him for the seat of chair and Governor Mutua for secretary general of the party. Kitui senator David Musila is Wiper’s chairman but his management of the party has been below par.
The party’s National Executive Council is yet to announce a date for the elections, but potential candidates are already warming up for plum positions.

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