Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka intends to lock down his home turf ahead of the 2022 elections.
Ukambani legislators led by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua are out to secure the region to support and vote for Kalonzo to the last man and woman.
They have vowed to deal firmly with dissent in the region.
Wambua has singled out the three Ukambani governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Alfred Mutua (Machakos) as keen to undermine Kalonzo’s popularity.
Other local Wiper diehards have pointed an accusing finger at former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama.
“We are asking other leaders to respect Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and stop hurling insults at him. Kalonzo deserves respect. He will not respond to such insults but as his attack dogs we will hit back in his defence,” Wambua said.
Kibwana and Mutua have declared interest to run for the presidency while Ngilu leans towards ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Muthama is spearheading a campaign to woo Ukambani to support DP William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
In the eyes of Wambua and other staunch Kalonzo supporters, the anti-Kalonzo leaders are persons whose propaganda should be countered with vigour to avoid dividing the voting bloc.
“We want you to be respectful. If you hold campaigns locally, you should do it with decorum. If you rub us the wrong way, be sure we will hit back,” said Wambua to the perceived dissidents.
The senator said Kalonzo has his own attack dogs who will not stand him being unduly maligned and will fight any criticism or propaganda directed at him.
“I want to address two people specifically and one generally,” Wambua said, alluding to the three Ukambani governors. He described Kalonzo as a leader who played in national politics while the governors belonged to the county level.
Wambua spoke last weekend during the burial ceremony of the mother of Nairobi businessman Mutati Nzoka, Rose Kairu Nzoka, at Maseki village in Mwingi north subcounty of Kitui. Kalonzo was in attendance.
“Kalonzo cannot respond to outbursts from Mutua and his ilk. It is us who will deal with Mutua because just like Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni), Senator Boniface Kabaka (Machakos) and I have a county mandate,” he said.
Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu announced that Ukambani legislators had resolved to launch a countrywide campaign for Kalonzo’s 2022 presidential ticket. He said that Wiper leaders including MCAs will visit other parts of Kenya in a campaign blitz.
Nzengu said the leaders want to send a message about the massive support Kalonzo enjoys in his home.
“Charity begins at home and if we manage to convince the rest of Kenya that Kalonzo enjoys unadulterated home support, then they will join our bandwagon,” Nzengu said.
The MP said the first of the countrywide meetings where Kalonzo will not necessarily be present will start at the Coast early next week.