Prof. Kibwana had hoped to be named in the cabinet as CS or Principal Secretary but that did not come to pass. With no job in sight for himself, his handlers are said to have advised him to quit politics and retire honourably to avoid humiliation from Kenya Kwanza operatives
Last week, the immediate former Makueni Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana publicly declared that he was retiring from active politics. It did not however catch people unawares since it was highly anticipated. But the question that is now on everyone’s lips is why he has quit politics barely two months after joining President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
The Weekly Vision reveals the reasons behind Kibwana’s retirement. First, Kibwana has been betrayed by Kenya Kwanza. Sources say Kibwana had been given promises which to date have never been fulfilled. Sources say Kibwana had been promised to be in William Ruto’s legal team at the Supreme Court something which Ruto’s insiders are alleged to have trashed.
Some members of President Ruto’s inner circle see Kibwana as a spent force who adds no value to their camp. They strongly feel that with Johnstone Muthama and Alfred Mutua backing the president, Kibwana has nothing better to offer.
It had also been whispered that Kibwana has been frustrated in Kenya Kwanza and has only met the president once during his defection ceremony from Azimio to Kenya Kwanza at the then DP’s Karen residence. It is also being whispered that Kibwana had hoped and wished to be named in the cabinet as CS or Principal Secretary but that did not come to pass. With no job in sight for himself, his handlers are said to have advised him to quit politics and retire honourably to avoid humiliation from Kenya Kwanza operatives.
Kibwana’s entry into elective politics was in 2002 when he vied and won the Makueni constituency parliamentary seat and was appointed Minister of Land, Settlements Environment & Natural Resources. He was later appointed by then President Mwai Kibaki as Presidential Advisor for Constitutional, Parliamentary and Youth Affairs in the President’s Office from January 2008 to September 2012.
In 2013, Prof. Kibwana was elected as the first governor of Makueni County under the Muungano Development Movement Party where he was the leader. In 2017, he joined the Wiper Party and clinched the seat again. This time, Kibwana was appointed chairman of the Wiper Democratic Movement Party however one year later, Kibwana fell out with Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
