A cleric from Machakos is now claiming he convinced Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka against taking part in the controversial January 30 ‘swearing in’ ceremony as deputy president to NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga.
Speaking during the county prayer meeting at the Machakos County Assembly premises on Thursday, African Brotherhood Church Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki said his intervention alongside other religious leaders in the county averted what could have been civil unrest of unimaginable proportion.
Ndambuki said he, together with 19 clerics from the county, met Kalonzo days before the event and prevailed upon him to keep off the venue of the ceremony as they suspected there would be bloodshed.
He said their frantic efforts to avert a possible national crisis finally paid off after the former vice president and a long time Mwingi North legislator backed down and gave the event a wide berth.
Only Raila Odinga out of the four NASA co-principals who also include Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula attended the ceremony.
“We as religious leaders from Machakos are the ones who implored upon Kalonzo against taking part in the January 30 ‘swearing in’ ceremony at the Uhuru Park grounds. It is this intervention that put hold to what could have been a bloody confrontation between the police and irate opposition supporters,” said Ndambuki who was the main preacher at yesterday’s event also attended by Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua.
The bishop challenged leaders from Ukambani region to spearhead peace efforts in the country regardless of whether the area will produce a President or not in the near future.
He also called upon members of the county assembly to undertake their mandate as outlined in the constitution irrespective of their political affiliations.
The bishop said it would be a grave danger for the elected leaders to engage in petty politicking at the expense of delivering the pledges which they promised the electorate during the campaign period.
“Only sound policies can shape the destiny of this county. Therefore as leaders we need to be guided by the rule of law and ensure we pursue those ideals that will help improve the livelihoods of our people such as provision of water, health, adequate food and improved roads,” he said.
On his part, Governor Mutua stressed that every effort of his administration will be geared towards providing services to the people after the High court upheld his victory last week.
He noted that much of what he could have achieved during his first term in office was compromised after certain leaders from the county went to court to block some of his key projects like the construction of the proposed Machakos city.
He said plans to have an ICT city in Ukambani region was his own idea after he requested retired President Mwai Kibaki to allow its construction in the area.
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“It was my idea that an ICT city be built in this region following the government’s initial plan to have it built in Isiolo town. I met the President alongside the then Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and a deal to establish the Konza Technopolis in Machakos was eventually reached,” said the county boss.
Mutua who has already announced plans to make a stab at the Presidency in 2022 also called upon members of the county assembly to keep off partisan politics and unite with his administration for the common good of the county.
Others present during the ceremony included Machakos County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa, County Assembly Speaker Florence Mwangangi, Senator Boniface Kabaka and Women Representative Joyce Kamene.
