Ex-senator Muthama joins race for Machakos governor

 

Former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama has said that he now has his eyes set on the Machakos governor seat in 2022.

Speaking on Friday, Muthama stated that he has been receiving requests from the people of Machakos asking him to return to leadership.

"Since 2017 when I took a break from active politics, I have been receiving delegates requesting me to get back to political leadership… if the wish of Machakos County electorate is to serve them, then I have accepted their will," Muthama tweeted.

The former senator is expected to face-off with Wiper party’s Wavinya Ndeti in the quest to become the next Machakos county boss.

Muthama announced that he had taken a break from politics after serving as the first senator of Machakos between 2013 and 2017.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka fell out with Muthama who was his key ally and financier of the party after he refused to work with Deputy President William Ruto, a union that Muthama was highly in support of.

In January last year, Muthama announced that a Ruto-Kalonzo deal was in the offing but the former Vice-President dismissed the claim.

Muthama had been quietly negotiating with Ruto to deliver Kalonzo but he rejected the overtures and instead signed a cooperation deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee party.

Muthama had influenced Kalonzo's political direction, from 2007 when he ran for president and teamed up with Mwai Kibaki the following year to become his VP.

In the 2013 and 2017 polls, Muthama was a key deal maker in handing Raila the presidential ticket with Kalonzo as his deputy.

Muthama is currently Chairman of Deputy President William Ruto-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.   BY THE STAR