Mutula family wants Kethi to run for Senate

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PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | FILE Lawyer Kethi Kilonzo walks to the Supreme Court during the presidential election hearing in April.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By BOB ODALO bodalo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, May 25  2013 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Spokesman says they are waiting for Ms Kilonzo’s word following a meeting in Nairobi

The family of late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo wants his daughter Kethi to seek his seat in the by-election scheduled for July 22.

Family spokesman Jeremiah Muthembwa told the Sunday Nation that pressure has been mounting from Senator Kilonzo’s close political associates and supporters in the county for the 36-year-old Ms Kilonzo to seek nomination in the June 3 primaries.

“I have personally held meetings with Ms Kilonzo and her brother Mutula Kilonzo Jr at the family’s Mwaki Foundation building in Nairobi. In one such meeting it was agreed that Ms Kilonzo should consider going for the seat, and she said she will weigh her options,” Mr Muthembwa said.

Calls on the family have been increasing, he said, to identify someone from among them to defend the seat the senior Kilonzo occupied before his death on April 27.

“From the look of things, Ms Kilonzo appears to fit the bill,” Mr Muthembwa said.

Ever since she made her mark before the Supreme Court as counsel for the petitioners challenging the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta in the March 4 General Election, Ms Kilonzo has won the admiration of many.

Tough battle

It is believed in some political circles that opponents, if she decides to contest, would have a tough battle on their hands.

“She has made her name, and who knows, the death of her father could be her political turning point,” said Mr Thomas Jones Musyoka, a local political analyst.

On Saturday, Ms Kilonzo attended the burial of a cousin where many expected her to make an announcement regarding the issue.

Among those expected to seek the seat are former assistant minister Gideon Ndambuki and former Kibwezi MP Philip Kaloki.

Mr Ndambuki lost the nomination for the Wiper Democratic Movement ticket to Mr Kilonzo prior to the March 4 elections.

However, the main challenger in the election, former Transport assistant minister Harun Mwau, had filed a petition in court disputing the outcome of the election, and it remains to be seen whether he will throw his hat in the ring again.

In his petition, Mr Mwau named the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as the first defendant and Mr Kilonzo as the second.

Vacant seat

Mutula died before the High Court heard the case.

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro declared the seat vacant on May 13.

Makueni County has six constituencies — Mbooni, Makueni, Kilome, Kaiti, Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West.

If Ms Kilonzo decides to vie, her principal challenge is expected to come from Mr Mwau. The former Kilome MP is no pushover, and a decision to make a second attempt at the seat in four months could set the stage for a fierce battle.

As MP for Kilome, Mr Mwau saw the constituency voted among the best in utilising devolved funds in a survey conducted by the National Taxpayers Association.

Mr Ndambuki, who lost to Senator Kilonzo in the Wiper primaries, is considering whether to make a second attempt for the seat. After he was defeated in the nominations, Mr Ndambuki joined the Cord presidential campaign and also campaigned for Senator Kilonzo.

Prof Kaloki, who lost to Prof Kivutha Kibwana in the race for governor, has not ruled out running. The chances of Mr Ndambuki and Prof Kaloki may hinge on Ms Kilonzo’s decision.