Kalonzo, Ngilu renew rivalry in Makueni

Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka (right) speaks with Ms Charity Ngilu. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By BOB ODALO bodalo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, June 28   2013 at  23:30

 

The race for the Makueni Senate seat has taken shape after the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission cleared four candidates for the July 22 by-election.

Former Senator Mutula Kilonzo’s daughter, Kethi, former assistant minister Harun Mwau, former MP Philip Kaloki and newcomer Jane Kitundu were given the nod by the commission after two days of nominations.

Mr Mwau lost to the late Kilonzo in March. It will, however, be the fight between Cord and Jubilee coalitions that will grip national attention.

For former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who is the Cord pointman in Ukambani, it will be a test of whether his Wiper Democratic Movement is still the dominant political force in the area.

Jubilee, on the other hand, will be seeking to discover if the area can become an electoral battleground in the next election.

Fight to pit old political hands with greenhorns

Jane Kitundu

Party: Labour Party of Kenya (LPK)

Profile: Mrs Kitundu spent most of her years working in the US as a nurse. She has a degree in nursing. She returned to the country to participate in the March 4 General Election but lost the race for Makueni women representative’s position.

“I want my people to get out of the socio-economic bondages which has bedevilled them for more than 50 years’, Mrs Kitundu said after she was cleared on Wednesday. A native of Mbooni constituency, her husband is a pilot in the US.

John Harun Mwau

Party: Party Of Independent Candidates (Pick)

Profile: A father of two, Mr Mwau is a seasoned politician having participated in elections since 1997. He is flamboyant and articulate in matters concerning business. Before the March 4 polls Mr Mwau was the MP for Kilome. He also served as an assistant minister before resigning.

Mr Mwau contested the Makueni Senate seat three months ago but lost to Mutula Kilonzo. He was the second to be cleared on Wednesday. He said he is banking on his track record to win the votes.

Philip Kaloki

Party: NARC

Profile: Prof Kaloki vied for the seat of governor of Makueni in the March 4 election but lost to Prof Kivutha Kibwana. He was a close ally of former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka but defected to Charity Ngilu’s party Narc last month. The father of two is facing a tricky situation in the by-election. In the run-up to the March polls, he and the late Mutula Kilonzo campaigned together.

“I have no ill-feeling with the late senator’s family, politics is a game of numbers. It is voters who will decide,” Prof Kaloki said.

Kethi Kilonzo

Party: Wiper Democtratic Movement

Profile: While she was being unveiled to the voters of Makueni last week, lawyer Kethi Kilonzo confessed that politics was not her usual cup of coffee. It was on that day that she addressed the first political rally in her life. Present were Cord luminaries led by Mr Raila Odinga.

While making her political debut Kethi, a mother of one , will have to prove herself as a politician capable of leading her own crusade. She is the daughter of Mr Mutula Kilonzo, who until April 27 was the area senator.