What started as President William Ruto’s characteristic engagement with political rivals, where he finds a way of setting up against their supporters has graduated to a public spat between him and Wiper Leader, Kalonzo Musyoka.
The ongoing verbal engagement between the two politicians has attracted other interested personalities.
Keen to add more paint to his political expedition in Ukambani, which has been a traditional turf for Wiper, on Wednesday morning, National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Augustus Muli broke his silence on the reigning spat between Ruto and Kalonzo
Muli criticized what he termed the deliberate underdevelopment of the Ukambani region, accusing national leaders of perpetuating poverty politics at the expense of citizens.
“Both have had stints in power. Both must take blame for the deliberate impoverishment of Ukambani,” Muli declared, condemning the escalating war of words between President Ruto and Kalonzo.
He didn’t spare the two leaders, saying they must share responsibility for the region’s stagnation.
“Ukambani can no longer endure deliberate impoverishment by national leaders. We must reject the politics of poverty,” he stated, arguing that the duel between Ruto and Kalonzo was a distraction from the real issue: the systemic neglect of Ukambani.
He warned that residents would no longer tolerate being used as pawns in national politics.
The NLP leader revealed that his party, alongside other like-minded movements, is crafting a people’s coalition aimed at dismantling what he described as “toxic ideologies” advanced by both Ruto and Kalonzo.
“We are building a coalition that will stand with the people, not against them. Ukambani deserves roads, schools, hospitals, and industries—not endless political insults,” Muli emphasized.
Muli says there is a growing frustration among emerging leaders in Ukambani, who feel the region has been sidelined despite its significant electoral weight. His call for a coalition could mark the beginning of a new political realignment ahead of the next election cycle.
For now, the NLP leader’s message is clear: Ukambani’s patience has worn thin, and the region is demanding tangible development rather than rhetorical battles.
The latest political banter was triggered by President Ruto’s remarks last Sunday, where he dismissed Kalonzo’s ability to lead the nation. He claimed the Wiper boss had failed to even tarmac the road leading to his Tseikuru home. The comments sparked a fiery exchange between the two leaders, further deepening divisions in a region long plagued by slow development.
“There are those saying we can’t achieve all that I have announced. I want to tell them that they are the ones who can’t achieve anything. They have no plan. It would be unreasonable to wait for someone who has never developed his rural road,” the President said.
“The road leading to his home is dusty and muddy, and he has been in power for decades. If he can’t develop his rural road, where will he get the smartness to plan development for Kenya? That is why they argue it is impossible, because they have never planned anything.”
Speaking during a public engagement on Monday, Kalonzo said Ruto focused on him rather than his agenda during a visit to Kiambu.
“Ruto was in Kiambu where he made me the subject instead of worshipping. He was talking about me and my home area, saying there are no roads,” he said.
“He said I have been in governance and leadership for 50 years. I will correct him, it’s 40 years.”
The former vice president emphasised that his decades in public service included major infrastructure initiatives in Kitui and the broader region.
“The 40 years were of serious experience. When I was vice president, I launched the construction and got a Chinese contractor, Sinohydro, to build the road,” Kalonzo explained.
“The road runs from Kibwezi to Mutomo, to Kitui, to Mwingi, to Tseikuru to Maua. That road links Ethiopia with Mombasa.
