With the Gachagua exit, Kenya stands at the brink of a political rebirth. The fall of Gachagua will undoubtedly demand fresh rebranding, strategizing, realignment, and positioning to tackle the new challenges ahead.
No politician, leader, or people worth their salt can afford to sit back and wait for manna to fall from heaven. People, regions, and individuals will rise, become proactive, and tap into their networks to exploit the prevailing political anxieties, placing themselves at the heart of government and new alignments.
These emerging alignments will become the vehicles shaping the 2027 elections and beyond. Now is the time for a regional rebirth in Ukambani.
In the ensuing political landscape, how should Kitui and Ukambani benefit and restore their traditional role in the center of government decision-making? How can the current crop of leaders revive the glory of our pre- and post-independence heroes during the Kenyatta and early Moi eras?
Who among our leaders can provide this strategic leadership? What qualities and capacities do they need?
Sadly, apart from the Kalonzo axis, there is a significant vacuum in Ukambani. This calls for a second political force because democracy thrives on competition!
Notable figures well-positioned for this role are experienced leaders outside of the current Kalonzo axis but with a deep understanding of Ukambani’s political terrain. In Kitui, these include former long-serving Ambassador and MP Kiema Kilonzo, former MPs David Musila, Charles Nyamai, and former CS Peninah Malonza, among others.
Similarly, former long-serving leaders in Machakos and Makueni with strong Wiper Party roots also fit the bill. However, Ambassador Kilonzo is the most suitable person to lead a new political alignment in Kitui and the wider region.
Kilonzo is a shrewd, free-wheeling operator with extensive connections in Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties, government, business, and international arenas, thanks to his two-term stint as MP and his ambassadorial duties since 2015.
Kiema honed his political skills defending Kalonzo during the treacherous ODM-K politics marked by conspiracy, backstabbing, and intrigue. As Mutito MP, he, alongside Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, Wiper Chair David Musila, Makueni MP Dan Maanzo, and the late Machakos Town MP Daudi Mwanzia, formed a shield around Kalonzo to fend off political rivals during his tenure as VP under President Mwai Kibaki.
Kiema is no stranger to cutthroat politics, given his experience in ODM-K, NARC, and diplomatic circles. He brings skill, experience, exposure, and the networks necessary to forge a formidable regional political bandwagon.
At 50, Kiema is much younger than veteran Kitui leaders like Musila, Ngilu, and Malombe, making him well-suited to connect with the youth, middle-aged professionals, and women. His past ties to the Wiper fraternity give him the ability to negotiate, persuade, and build a strong political force across Kitui and the Ukambani region.
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