Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu speaking in a Past Function. File Photo. 
By Ryan Mumo.
Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu has launched a scathing attack on former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, dismissing him as a political hireling allegedly being used by President William Ruto to undermine Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s growing national influence.
Speaking in response to remarks made by Muthama during a church service in Kwale on Sunday, Mbilu accused the former senator of peddling misleading narratives aimed at portraying Kalonzo’s political engagements as tribal and regionally confined to Ukambani and Central.
Muthama had dismissed Kalonzo’s association with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming the alliance was rooted in tribal politics and insisting President Ruto was far ahead in the 2027 presidential race.
Mbilu rejected those assertions, arguing that Kalonzo’s recent political activities demonstrate a deliberate shift toward national, issue-based politics rather than regional mobilization. He cited Kalonzo’s engagements across the country, including Mombasa, Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Nyanza, Mt Kenya, Kiritiri, and Nairobi, as evidence that the Wiper leader has outgrown parochial politics.
“Reducing Kalonzo’s politics to Ukambani is not only inaccurate but also intellectually dishonest,” Mbilu said. “He has been everywhere in Kenya building bridges and uniting communities around shared national goals.”
The Speaker questioned Muthama’s political standing, suggesting the former senator is grappling with relevance and may be positioning himself for a Machakos senatorial bid without grassroots support. According to Mbilu, this has left Muthama vulnerable to being “used” by forces seeking to weaken Kalonzo’s political base.
Mbilu further alleged that President Ruto has exhausted all avenues to politically co-opt Kalonzo and is now relying on intermediaries to attempt rapprochement. “Kalonzo has firmly shut all doors that could be used to compromise his principles or betray Kenyans,” he said, adding that any attempt to lure the Wiper leader into government ranks was doomed to fail.
Addressing claims that Kalonzo and his allies are playing tribal politics, Mbilu accused anti-Wiper elements within Ukambani of fueling misinformation to tarnish Kalonzo’s image. He argued that such actors have failed to offer a credible development agenda for the region and are instead focused on undermining unity.
The Makueni Speaker also claimed that Muthama has increasingly confined his political engagements to church gatherings due to limited public acceptance elsewhere. He cited the former senator’s absence from the burial of the late Konza Development Authority chairperson Munyao—despite his expressed interest in attending—as evidence of his waning influence in the region.
In his sharpest remarks, Mbilu said Muthama’s political fortunes are inseparable from Kalonzo’s backing, asserting that without it, the former senator would struggle to secure elective office. He added that Muthama’s strained relations with key political figures have further narrowed his options.
“Kalonzo’s politics are about unity, purpose, and the future of Kenya,” Mbilu said. “Attempts to frame them as tribal or outdated will not succeed. Kenyans can see the difference.”
The exchange underscores deepening political fault lines as leaders begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with alliances, influence, and national reach emerging as central battlegrounds.
