Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Senator Mutula Kilonzo engaged in an online exchange over Raila Odinga mock swearing-in and the subsequent National Super Alliance (NASA) split.
In what appears to be a power struggle between the two politicians, Kibwana took a swipe at bitter ex-NASA principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia as Mutula tried to shut him down.
The confrontation started when Kibwana criticised Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula, and Musalia Mudavadi for their failure to participate in Raila Odinga’s mock swearing in early 2018 as people’s president, indirectly terming them cowards.
“What sense does it make for the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) trio to exit NASA and then invite Baba(Raila Odinga) to join them in OKA (A reincarnation of NASA ) Alliance?
“Is this confirmation that team OKA Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Wetangula cannot withstand an ultimate peoples’ swearing ceremony a second time?” Kivutha Kibwana wrote on his official Twitter account.
The governor’s sentiments seemed to have been inspired by Kalonzo Musyoka’s recent move to exit NASA and invite Raila Odinga’s party ODM to the newly formed One Kenya Alliance which also included Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula and KANU boss Gideon Moi.
Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo did not hold back in his response to the governor’s tweet, the senator accused the governor of having actively participated in events leading up to Kalonzo skipping the mock swearing in ceremony of Raila.
According to Mutula, it is Kivutha Kibwana who incited Kalonzo Musyoka not to attend the mock swearing in of Raila Odinga as the people’s president on January 30, 2018.
“You passionately spoke against the swearing-in ceremony, misled the party (Wiper Party), and left. Tuliza(calm down),” Mutula Kilonzo told the governor.
It is worth noting that the. relationship among the 5 partners in the NASA coalition started deteriorating after all but Raila Odinga skipped the swearing-in ceremony as it raised accusations of mistrust and disloyalty.
The once-formidable coalition is now on its death bed, two founding parties having exited, leaving behind smaller parties like FORD_Kenya and Chama Cha Mashinani.
The war of words between the two is not only a result of the NASA split but also an internal dispute between Kivutha Kibwana and the Wiper Party.
