The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Kitui East Member of Parliament Nimrod Mbai has suggested that Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka should abandon his presidential aspirations for 2027 due to financial constraints. Instead, Mbai urged Kalonzo to throw his support behind President William Ruto’s reelection bid.
Speaking at his rural home in Nzouni on Friday, the UDA-allied MP criticized Kalonzo, asserting that he lacks the financial capacity required for a presidential campaign compared to his competitors. Mbai played down Kalonzo’s political influence in the region, cautioning that the Kamba community might end up in the opposition if they choose to support Kalonzo’s candidacy.
Mbai argued, “He cannot win the presidency alone. The position demands significant financial resources and nationwide travel, similar to Ruto’s approach. However, if Kalonzo were to undertake a week-long campaign like Ruto, he would be financially strained by Thursday and likely give up.”
“Kalonzo cannot sustain a presidential campaign even for a week; in fact, he would run out of funds by the third day. I am not convinced that he can make a meaningful impact,” Mbai emphasized.
The controversial Kenya Kwanza lawmaker contended that Kalonzo’s expectation of receiving Raila Odinga’s endorsement was misguided and not forthcoming. He advised Kalonzo to realistically assess his standing, stating, “You can’t compete with Raila or Ruto. Your only option is to align yourself with one of them, but Raila’s side is not viable given your past affiliations. Join William Ruto for the sake of the future.”
Mbai dismissed the notion that Raila Odinga would endorse Kalonzo, asserting that Raila had invested his entire political life and would likely support someone else. He suggested that Kalonzo should gracefully consider retiring from politics.
The second-term MP revealed his efforts to solidify President Ruto’s support in Kitui, aiming for over 50% of the total county votes in the upcoming elections. He highlighted that in the 2022 elections, President Ruto secured 28% of the votes in the region, signifying a decline in Kalonzo’s local support over the years.
Mbai, vying for the Kitui County UDA chairmanship in the upcoming party elections, urged the Kamba community to shift their allegiance from Kalonzo, whom he accused of misleading the people, and instead support the ruling party for developmental progress.
