What next after Kalonzo-Muthama secret meeting

Speculation is rife over the secret meeting held between Wiper Patriotic Front Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama in Nairobi three weeks ago.

The meeting has led to assumptions that President William Ruto might be using Muthama to reach out to Kalonzo in his quest to ensure that he is able to get a second term in office during the August 2027 general election.

Wiper Patriotic Front National Chairman Jamleck Kamau revealed that he hosted the meeting, which was held at his Lavington Residence as part of the efforts to bring back Muthama to the opposition fold.

“The October 1 meeting was held at my Lavington residence and brought together our Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Senator Muthama, Nyali MP Mohamed Ali, former Mutito MP Kiema Kilonzo and myself,” said Kamau.

He said that the meeting was the culmination of discussions he and other Wiper officials had held with Muthama over several months on strengthening the party and consolidating its support base in Lower Eastern where it commands a strong following.

Kalonzo and Muthama have enjoyed close relations for many years, with the former Senator said to have financed Kalonzo’s campaigns in the past, but the two leaders would later fall out prior to the 2017 general election, with Muthama withdrawing from the Machakos Senate race.

The former Senator had acrimoniously announced his decision to quit the Senate race in 2017, citing dictatorship by Kalonzo in the party nominations, leaving both friends and foes confounded since he was considered largely the unbeatable candidate in the race.

Following the recent meeting between the two leaders, Muthama would, a few days later, come out to dismiss speculation over their meeting, saying only the two of them know what was discussed during the private discussion saying that those speculating about it were not part of the meeting.

“Let me come out clearly that it is only me and Kalonzo who know what we discussed during our private meeting, those speculating about the contents of the meeting were not part of the discussions and therefore could not claim to know what transpired,” said Muthama.

The former Machakos Senator described the meeting as a private conversation between two people who have known each other for a long time and that they discussed matters concerning their region as well as issues affecting the country at large.

Political Analyst Herman Manyora said that the  Kalonzo-Muthama secret meeting should not be dismissed as just any other meeting, considering the long history between two politicians who have worked closely in the past and are likely to work together again.

Manyora said that Muthama was not just another Kenyan politician but coming from Kalonzo’s backyard, Ukambani and with his vast business interests and a financial war chest he has over the years, built a name for himself within the broader Kenyan political ecosystem.

“Muthama does only have a history with Kalonzo having been involved in political negotiations at some of the most consequential moments in Kenya’s history, he has  carved an image as just about the only man who can cut political deals and undertake serious commitments on behalf of Kalonzo,” said Manyora.

 He said that for us to understand why we should all consider this meeting significant, we must go back to the period following the disputed 2007 presidential election when Kenya was experiencing serious political tension and the country was eventually brought into a power-sharing arrangement following mediation led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

 The Political Analyst pointed out that it was around this time that Kalonzo rose to be the Vice-President under President Mwai Kibaki in January 2008 and word has it that Muthama was among the political figures involved in negotiations on Kalonzo’s side during that period.

“While it would be wrong to suggest that one individual alone determined the outcome of the Kibaki-Kalonzo negotiations with Muthama’s involvement, the episode illustrates the importance of political negotiations in shaping alliances,” said Manyora.

The Political Analyst hightlighted Kalonzo’s subsequent relationship with Raila Odinga and the domineering presence of Muthama around them during this time also brings into focus his significant role in advocating for Kalonzo's interests within the formation of coalitions.

 He said that in 2013, Kalonzo became Raila’s running mate under the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, while in 2017 the two again worked together under the National Super Alliance, with this resulting from intense backroom negotiations involving several political leaders and parties.