Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua is on the spot following the attack on his Nairobi counterpart Mike Sonko during the fresh presidential election on Thursday. In what has sparked a fresh political showdown in Ukambani politics, Sonko’s supporters are reading mischief in the incident where the Nairobi governor, who was at his Mua Hills residence after overseeing logistics for the rerun, was confronted by a group of youths in Machakos Town.
It is alleged Mutua’s chief of protocol Muhazim Mbole instigated the attack at Mulu Mutisya Grounds polling station after apparently informing his boss of the Nairobi governor’s presence in the town. Earlier, Mbole had mischievously ordered nyama choma for Sonko at Korogocho meat point in the town.
Several youths invaded the polling station and demanded that Sonko leaves immediately. Mutua and Sonko have in recent months been jostling for the position of Lower Eastern kingpin within Jubilee circles following Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s decision to support Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga for the presidency under the umbrella of the National Super Alliance (NASA).
He was Raila’s running mate in the August 8 General Election before they opted to withdraw from the race following the nullification of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win by the Supreme Court citing illegalities and irregularities in the transmission of presidential election results.
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Mutua has been working to cement his place as the alternate leader in Ukambani politics after parting ways with Kalonzo to form the Maendeleo Chap Chap Movement to forge for development-oriented politics in the region. The outfit later transformed itself into a political party and fronted candidates for various seats across the country.
However, observers say Sonko’s success in clinching the Nairobi gubernatorial seat after he clinched 834, 802 to defeat the incumbent, ODM’s Evans Kidero, who garnered 669, 592 votes and his closeness to State House is a threat to Mutua’s future designs.
Sonko has also confounded political pundits by succeeding to marshal support from across the political divide something that may work in his favour if he eyes a bigger seat in future. For instance, on his way to Machakos on Thursday, he encountered a group of protesting NASA supporters who had barricaded the road and he managed to convince them to reopen the thoroughfare.
