Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama speaking in a Past Function. File Photo 
By Andrew Mbuva
Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has dismissed calls urging him to support Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s 2027 presidential bid on the basis of ethnic solidarity, insisting that leadership must be grounded in vision, strategy and national appeal—not tribal identity.
In a strongly worded statement, Muthama questioned the sincerity of those invoking the “Kamba factor” to pressure him into backing Kalonzo, reminding them of past political choices that undermined similar ethnic arguments.
“Those asking me to support Kalonzo simply because we are both Kamba, where were you in 1997 when I stood firmly with Charity Ngilu?” Muthama posed. “Weren’t some of you campaigning for Moi and KANU then? And wasn’t Ngilu a Kamba too?”
The outspoken former senator revisited Kenya’s recent political history to challenge what he termed as selective ethnic loyalty. He noted that during the 2013 and 2017 elections, Kalonzo served as Raila Odinga’s running mate, yet some of his current cheerleaders chose to align themselves with the government of the day, securing state appointments and advancing personal interests.
“So what has really changed?” Muthama asked. “Some of you joined government, got jobs and pursued your own ambitions. Today, you want to lecture others about loyalty.”
Muthama, who politically parted ways with Kalonzo Musyoka in the run-up to the 2022 General Election, unsuccessfully contested the Machakos gubernatorial seat on a UDA ticket. Despite losing the race, he emerged as one of President William Ruto’s fiercest campaigners in Ukambani and beyond, playing a key role in selling the Kenya Kwanza message.
Although political analysts argue that he received a “raw deal” after President Ruto’s victory—having only been appointed as a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission despite his visible role in the campaign—Muthama has remained unapologetically loyal to the Head of State. He has now publicly vowed to campaign for President Ruto’s re-election in the 2027 General Election.
“We are in government today to deliver what others failed to achieve—progress, development and opportunities for all,” he said, dismissing claims that his support for Ruto is transactional or driven by personal gain.
Muthama also poured cold water on emerging opposition realignments, particularly the political unity between Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, branding it a tribal arrangement lacking national vision.
“This is not about belief in Kalonzo’s leadership or confidence that he can win in 2027,” Muthama asserted. “It’s about selfish interests—nominations and political survival. Once those fail, the same people will abandon him.”
Drawing from his long political journey with Kalonzo dating back to the KANU era, Muthama acknowledged their shared history but insisted that nostalgia cannot substitute strategy or national appeal. He warned that President Ruto remains far ahead of his rivals in terms of planning, political organization and execution.
“We must support leaders based on their vision for the country, not their surnames,” Muthama concluded. “Tribe cannot be the baseline for choosing a presidential candidate.”
With Kalonzo Musyoka widely expected to challenge President Ruto as the opposition’s presidential flag bearer in 2027, Muthama’s remarks underscore the deepening political fault lines in Ukambani—and signal that ethnic arithmetic alone may no longer be sufficient currency in Kenya’s evolving political landscape..
