Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua has launched a blistering attack on Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka, asking the former vice president to bow out of active politics after four decades of what he termed failed leadership in the Ukambani region. The CS made the remarks during a funds drive at Athi River ACK Church on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to a packed congregation, Alfred Mutua accused Kalonzo Musyoka of presiding over decades of underdevelopment despite holding some of the highest offices in the land. “For over forty years our brother has been MP, minister, Speaker, and Vice President, yet our people still lack clean water, good roads, factories, and jobs. It is time he gave others a chance,” Mutua declared to loud applause.
The Cabinet Secretary claimed Kalonzo has deliberately kept Ukambani in poverty to maintain political relevance. “He runs a politics of handouts and dependency. Every election he tells people to remain poor so they can keep voting for him out of desperation. That era is over,” Mutua told the gathering.
He further revealed that he is quietly mobilising professionals, youths, and women across Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties to challenge the old political order. “This is not just another party. This is a revolution for real development. Ukambani deserves leaders who bring factories, not excuses,” the CS said.
Mutua pointed to visible changes since President William Ruto took office in 2022 as evidence that the region is finally progressing. “Look at the number of tarmac roads being done, water projects in Makueni, the leather factory in Machakos, and EPZ jobs in Mavoko. People’s lives are improving because someone is finally working instead of just talking,” he added.
Several local leaders who accompanied the Cabinet Secretary echoed his sentiments. Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Maliti said the youth are tired of being used as voting blocs while remaining jobless. “We respect Baba for his past service, but we cannot live on history.” We want jobs and development now,” Maliti told the church congregation.
The attack comes barely a week after Kalonzo Musyoka declared he will run for president again in 2027 and warned Mutua against dividing the Kamba vote. Sources within Wiper say the party is preparing a strong response, with some officials describing Mutua as an ungrateful opportunist who only gained prominence through Kalonzo’s support in earlier elections.
Political analysts say the Alfred Mutua challenge against Kalonzo Musyoka could split the Ukambani vote and weaken Azimio’s influence in the region ahead of 2027. Already, a number of sitting MPs and governors from the larger Eastern region have quietly started consulting on forming a new political vehicle that will ride on the Kenya Kwanza development narrative.
Mutua concluded his speech by calling on Kamba professionals in the diaspora to return and invest at home. “We have doctors, engineers, and professors scattered all over the world. Come back and help build our region instead of leaving it to politicians who only visit during campaigns,” he urged.
As the 2027 succession politics intensifies, the public confrontation between Alfred Mutua and Kalonzo Musyoka has opened a new front in Ukambani politics. Residents now wait to see whether the promised revolution will translate into actual projects or remain another round of political rhetoric in a region long known for fierce loyalty to its leaders.
For now, the Alfred Mutua call for Kalonzo Musyoka to retire has ignited heated debate across social media and radio talk shows, with many asking whether longevity in politics should automatically translate to permanent leadership or if fresh blood is indeed needed to unlock Ukambani’s long-awaited prosperity.
