Former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama has rejected calls urging him to support Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s presidential ambitions because of shared ethnic identity.
In a statement on Saturday, Muthama insisted that leadership should be judged on vision and national appeal rather than tribal affiliation.
He questioned the consistency and motives of those appealing to him to back Kalonzo because both are Kamba, saying similar arguments were absent during past elections.
“To those asking me to support Kalonzo Musyoka's presidential bid because he's a Kamba and I'm a Kamba too, where were you in 1997 when I stood with Charity Ngilu?” Muthama asked.
“Weren't you campaigning for Moi and Kanu then? And wasn't Ngilu a Kamba?”
Muthama recalled that in the 1997 General Election, Ngilu contested the presidency but did not receive uniform backing from leaders and voters within her community, many of whom supported then President Daniel arap Moi and the ruling KANU party.
He also cited the 2013 and 2017 elections, when Kalonzo served as Raila Odinga’s running mate under the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and later the National Super Alliance (NASA).
During that period, Muthama accused some of Kalonzo’s current backers of prioritising personal gain over loyalty.
“In 2013 and 2017, Kalonzo was Raila Odinga's running mate, and some of you joined the government, got state jobs, and pursued your own interests,” he said. “So what's changed?”
Muthama, who has in recent years aligned himself with the Kenya Kwanza administration, said those now calling for ethnic solidarity were being driven by self-interest rather than conviction in Kalonzo’s leadership or electoral viability.
“It’s clear you're not backing Kalonzo out of faith in his leadership or belief that he can win in 2027, but for selfish reasons,” he said.
“You want nominations, and if that fails, you'll abandon him.”
He added that political support should be grounded in a leader’s agenda and capacity to unite the country, not ethnic calculations.
“We should support leaders based on their vision for our nation, not tribal ties,” Muthama said. “Tribe can't be the baseline for choosing a candidate.”
His remarks come amid early political realignments and debate over succession politics ahead of the 2027 General Election, with leaders across the political divide urging Kenyans to move away from ethnic-driven voting toward issue-based politics.
