Wiper leaders accuse President Ruto of disrespecting Kamba community

Members of the Wiper Patriotic Front party have launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of demeaning the Kamba community and marginalising their political voice.

The leaders say they are fed up with what they describe as persistent contempt from the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Speaking during the unveiling of Anthony Kisoi as the Wiper candidate for the upcoming Mumbuni North ward by-election, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti said the Kamba community and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka have endured ridicule in silence for too long.

“Kalonzo should be accorded respect; some of you take his goodness, calmness and diplomacy for granted. Because he is a peaceful man who dislikes confrontation, you tend to disrespect him,” said Wavinya.

“We are tired of some of the leaders kutukanyaga; sasa wacheni tukanyagane basi. You come here and talk down to us as if we are fools — we are not. Saa hii kama mbaya mbaya.”

Former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka on his part accused President Ruto of misleading the people of Ukambani with what he described as “empty promises.”

Munyaka noted that since assuming office, the president has failed to conduct a single development-focused tour in the region, despite visiting other parts of the country more than five times — a concern echoed by Machakos deputy governor Francis Mwangangi.

Munyaka further accused the Kenya Kwanza government of entrenching corruption and discrimination, asserting that if Kalonzo were to be given the opportunity to lead, graft would be buried “in the grave of forgetfulness.”

Munyaka also revisited Ruto’s remarks during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui, where the president used the phrase “vomwe na vetwe,” interpreted as a jab at the Akamba community for consistently aligning with the opposition. 

“He disrespected us in Kitui, said a lot of lies and insulted Kalonzo. You can’t say that Kambas are people of ‘vomwe and vetwe’. I know that you didn’t know the meaning of the phrase and that Kawaya told you. He is the one who told you to say that and that the Akamba are poor and proud,” said Munyaka.

“I want to tell the president that the meaning of the phrase is one-term. We are a people who fear God; we don’t steal from Kenyans. You have been president for three and a half years, and so far, there is nothing to show for it, especially in Ukambani. Stop disrespecting Akamba and Kalonzo.”

Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa, meanwhile, dismissed criticism levelled against the Rigathi Gachagua-led DCP party, calling it a diversionary tactic meant to distract Kenyans from President Ruto’s recent signing of controversial laws on cybercrime and the privatisation of state corporations, as well as the recent deaths of youths at Kasarani.

Wiper leaders framed the Mumbuni North by-election, scheduled for the 27th of next month, as a litmus test for Kalonzo’s 2027 presidential ambitions. They urged residents to rally behind Kisoi as a show of support and confidence in Kalonzo’s leadership come 2027.

The endorsement was strongly backed by Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia, who called on the community to unite behind the Wiper candidate.