The political rivalry between former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has flared up once more, this time over the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Mr. Muthama has weighed in, diverging sharply from Kalonzo’s stance and backing the impeachment, which he argues is in the best interest of Kenyans.
Mr Muthama is a close ally of President William Ruto; he was the inaugural chairman of the UDA Party and has long been a staunch opponent of Kalonzo. The only time he aligned with Kalonzo was during the 2007 elections when Kalonzo ran for president on the ODM-Kenya ticket and lost to Mwai Kibaki. Muthama played a pivotal role in encouraging Kalonzo to accept the vice presidency under Kibaki after the post-election violence.
In the 2022 general elections, Muthama shifted his support to William Ruto, a move that left Kalonzo dissatisfied as he remained loyal to the Azimio coalition and Raila Odinga. Although he did not contest in the recent elections, Muthama secured a prominent role as a Commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission after William Ruto formed his government.
With Gachagua’s impeachment on the horizon, a measure Kalonzo strongly opposes, Muthama has opted to support the impeachment process. Kalonzo had rallied most Wiper and Ukambani MPs to defend the DP during the National Assembly vote, but the effort fell short, with a significant number of Ukambani MPs voting against him. As the focus shifts to the Senate, where the three Ukambani senators are expected to oppose the motion, Muthama is reaching out to voters in Ukambani. He has made it clear that regardless of how the senators vote, he stands firmly in favour of impeaching the Deputy President.
Senator Enoch Wambua of Kitui, a close ally of Kalonzo, has expressed opposition to the motion, mirroring sentiments from Makueni’s Dan Maanzo. Meanwhile, the position of Machakos Senator Agnes Muthama remains uncertain, though she is likely to oppose the impeachment.
Muthama boasts a significant support base in Ukambani, having previously financed various MP campaigns. During the 2007 elections, he, along with other wealthy individuals from the region, provided substantial support for Kalonzo’s presidential bid. However, their relationship soured in subsequent elections when Muthama suggested that Kalonzo should abandon his presidential ambitions in favour of backing Raila Odinga instead.
