Former Machakos senator Johnson Muthama has fired a sharp warning to those pressuring him to support Kalonzo Musyoka’s 2027 presidential bid, saying ethnic loyalty should never determine political choices.
On X, Muthama reminded Kamba leaders and politicians urging him to back Kalonzo that he has a history of independent decisions.
He asked, “Where were you in 1997 when I stood with Charity Ngilu? Weren’t you campaigning for Moi and Kanu then?” He pointed out that Ngilu, like Kalonzo, is Kamba, yet support for her back then was far from universal.
Muthama also took aim at politicians wh loo benefited from Kalonzo’s past alliances.
He recalled the 2013 and 2017 elections when Kalonzo served as Raila Odinga’s running mate, saying many of his current supporters opted to join the government, grab state jobs, and pursue personal gains.
“So what’s changed?” he asked, challenging the sincerity of calls for unity behind Kalonzo.
The former senator accused some backers of being motivated not by belief in Kalonzo’s leadership but by selfish ambitions, including party nominations.
He warned that such support is fragile and could easily disappear if personal expectations are not met.
Muthama stressed that leadership should be judged on vision, policies, and ability to deliver for the nation, not tribe.
“Tribe cannot be the baseline for choosing a candidate,” he said, urging Kamba politicians to focus on national progress instead of ethnic loyalty.
His remarks are likely to stir debate within the Wiper Party and the broader Kamba political landscape, highlighting the tensions between ethnic expectations and political principles ahead of the 2027 elections.
This is the latest in a series of Muthama’s outspoken interventions, reflecting his long-standing reputation as a politician unafraid to challenge prevailing narratives and question motives behind political campaigns.