Following his predictable protests after losing the presidential race to William Ruto, Azimio leader Raila Odinga has left Kambas demanding answers from Kalonzo Musyoka.
Kambas fear that Raila, as he has done in the past, will abandon Kalonzo once he accomplishes his goal of being accommodated in government
This has raised questions over Kalonzo’s endgame, given he seems to have no plan other than following Raila blindly.
Kambas have given Kalonzo an ultimatum to reveal his plan, failing which they will withdraw their support and identify a new leader.
Some leaders have argued that even Raila’s own governor James Orengo of Siaya is now in talks with Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen for road projects in Siaya which means Luos are benefitting as Kambas play barren opposition politics.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has accused Raila of having ulterior motives and described his Movement of Defense for Democracy as an exit plan from Azimio.
He has called for Kalonzo to strengthen Wiper Party, warning that Raila has a history of forgetting about the Kamba community once he achieves power.
Kalonzo’s recent decisions, such as nominating two Arabs, Malindi Shakila Abdalla and Ahmed Twalib, individuals instead of Kambas to senatorial and parliamentary positions, have caused further distrust among the community.
They feel that their votes have been used to build Raila but once he gets to power he forgets Kambas and ditches Kalonzo in the eleventh as seen in the 2018 handshake when Raila had only Luos appointed in government.
There are speculations that Kalonzo’s endgame is to wait for Raila to pass on and take over his supporters.
However, this would only work if Raila gets out of the picture before 2027.
Additionally, if Raila does not run, there is no guarantee he would support Kalonzo as his successor, and he would likely back the candidate who offers him the most money.
Kambas are demanding more from Kalonzo than blind allegiance to Raila.
Not that Kalonzo cares when Kambas are misused.
He himself is the number one misuser of Kambas.
When Uhuru Kenyatta after his handshake with Raila in 2018 asked Kalonzo to name someone to be appointed ambassador, Kalonzo picked Judith Sijedi.
That Kalonzo is determined to hang onto Raila’s coat is demonstrated by the fact that for the first time in his political life, Kalonzo set foot in Kibera.
But according to leaders from his backyard feel that if Kalonzo is hanging onto Raila imagining that Raila has gratefulness, he will discover too late that Raila is thankless and has no qualms about betraying those who assume they are his allies.
If Raila had a piece of meat and Kalonzo was starving, someone who has known Raila since the 1992 election said, Raila would rather throw the meat to a dog than give it to Kalonzo.
It is something only Kalonzo seems not to understand and which is now a matter of concern among Kambas.
So much so that some Kamba elders and professionals have started canvassing with a view to coming up with a united stand for the community outside the Raila orbit.
This grouping is of the view that Kalonzo is creating antagonism between the community and the government something that will end up disadvantaging the community when it comes to getting jobs in the government such as ambassadors and parastatal directors.
If Kalonzo does not need water because the water never runs out at his Karen home, the grouping says, his neighbours in Tseikuru want water.
If Kalonzo does not need a bridge because he has a helicopter, they say, the people of Kitui want bridges to trek across.
Matter of fact, Kambas say, there was a time in history when the country was called the Province of Ukamba which is a history Kalonzo evidently has never known hence his obsequious relationship between him and the likes of Raila, Gideon and Uhuru.
