Political temperatures rise, political alignments continue to form as the country approaches the 2022 general elections.

Political big wigs in the country are using the ongoing by-elections across the country to stretch their political muscles ahead of the general elections.

One of the highly contested seats is the Machakos Senatorial seat, which has attracted a major political rift between Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama.

Muthama, who was a staunch supporter and a member of the Wiper Party, ditched the party and joined the brigade that is campaigning for Deputy President William Ruto for the top job in 2022.

Through the UDA Party, Ruto's team has fielded Urbanus Muthama alias Ngengele to square it out with Wiper's Agnes Kavindu, Maendeleo Chap Chap's Mutua Katuku, among other candidates.

Muthama's brigade, which is also DP William Ruto's team, has suffered two major blows in the race following the defection of key political leaders in the region.

First was the Machakos former MCAs who had earlier endorsed Ngengele; they have now turned their back on the UDA candidate to support Maendeleo Chap Chap's Mutua Katuku.

In a press statement, the former MCAs narrated that after a long soul searching, they have settled on Katuku, terming him as experienced and development-oriented.

"We have listened to all the candidates vying for the seat; we have settled on Katuku because he is experienced and is most fit for the seat," one of the MCAs narrated.

As if that is not enough, the UDA team suffered another blow after the party's strategist ditched the party.

Former Machakos Deputy Governor and key politician in the UDA leadership withdrew his support to the party's candidate in favor of Wiper's Agnes Kavindu.

Kiala, who has been Muthama's closest ally, said that he has withdrawn his support from the UDA candidate, saying that he was fraudulently nominated.

The strategist was among candidates who sort UDA nomination for the Machakos Senatorial seat and was the preferred candidate until Ngengele showed up at the last minute and was nominated to fly the party's ticket.

"I am not in Ngengele's campaigns, and I cannot support a person who was nominated in a fraudulent process; my political conscience does not allow me. I have many followers who always want me to show them the right way," Kiala narrated.

Kiala, who joined Wiper Kalonzo Musyoka in his Kabuchai tour, revealed that he is back to Wiper and is ready to work with the party leader.

Among other politicians who have quit UDA alongside Kiala include John Musingi, who sort a Muungano ticket, Lilly Nduku, who first sort a CCU ticket but later withdrew from the race, and Joseph Mathuki.

Content created and supplied by: StanleyKiwia (via Opera News )