By Andrew Mbuva
A storm is brewing in Ukambani politics after a group of high-profile Wiper leaders rubbished President William Ruto’s invitation to meet him at State House tomorrow, branding the gesture arrogant and disrespectful.
Speaking in Mwingi during the burial of Kalonzo Musyoka’s uncle, Mzee Mburu Mairu, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu tore into both the manner and the messenger of the invite.
“Wiper has a clear chain of command, and our party president is Kalonzo Musyoka,” Wambua declared. “If any other president—of whatever form or colour—wants to talk to Wiper members, he knows exactly whom to approach.”
Wambua dismissed the planned consultation with Kamba leaders as “dead on arrival,” accusing the Head of State of sending mere “errand boys” to do his bidding.
Mbilu was even more scathing, ridiculing reports that Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka (Kawaya) had circulated the invite via WhatsApp.
“Imagine the President tasking an MP to summon our governors, senators, and MPs through WhatsApp messages. What level of disrespect is that?” he asked.
With the 2025/26 national budget already tabled in Parliament—containing no major allocations for the region—Mbilu questioned what tangible issues the meeting could possibly address.
He further alleged that attendees would be offered a KSh 1 million “token” for turning up: “Go collect that money if you like—but bring it back home. We’ll eat it and still vote you and your master out,” he jeered.
Kitui Governor Julius Malombe urged the Kamba community to rally firmly behind Kalonzo’s 2027 presidential bid and start preparing to bankroll his campaign.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti warned that any local leaders who obstruct Kalonzo would be swept aside at the ballot box, dubbing some of them “first-timers whose goose is already cooked.”
For his part, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka adopted a measured tone, saying leaders were free to honour the State House invite—so long as they did not betray their constituents’ trust.
“He is the President, so go and meet him if you must,” Kalonzo said. “But do not compromise the mandate our people have entrusted to you.”
With the meeting set for tomorrow, all eyes are now on Ukambani lawmakers: will they boycott, attend in protest, or pocket the alleged payout?
