Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has angrily dismissed claims that he is being used as a political pawn in emerging political realignments in Ukambani, insisting that his engagements with different leaders should not be mistaken for political coercion.
Visibly irritated by the speculation surrounding his recent political activities, Sonko maintained that his appearances alongside former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and attendance at a church service with nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda did not amount to an endorsement of any political faction.
“Just because I was seen with Muthama and went to church with Senator Tabitha Mutinda doesn’t mean I’m being coerced,” he said.
The former governor has been at the centre of renewed political conversations following a series of engagements with influential Ukambani leaders, including Muthama and Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, amid growing efforts to unite the Kamba political establishment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Muthama has been championing unity among leaders from the region, calling on Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Mutua and Sonko to work together to strengthen the community’s bargaining power in national politics.
However, Sonko appears keen to draw a distinction between political unity and what he considers political manipulation, particularly where the interests of the Kamba community are concerned.
Taking to social media, where he has continued to push his position through personal posts and messages shared by his NEDP deputy, Anthony Manyara, Sonko cautioned against what he described as a familiar political arrangement in which the Kamba community is mobilised to support political formations only to be sidelined when power-sharing negotiations begin.
“All I’m asking is that Kalonzo should not be duped or hoodwinked into dragging the Kamba people into a faction where they will be taken for granted. Our people have been used as fillers for a long time,” he maintained.
His remarks introduce another dimension to the ongoing political conversations surrounding Kalonzo’s presidential ambitions and the possible alliances taking shape ahead of the next polls.
Sonko, who heads the National Economic Development Party (NEDP), insists that his political engagements are guided by shared interests rather than instructions from political power brokers.
He has also maintained that he will continue working with like-minded leaders as he builds his party’s national presence.
“I will continue to work with like-minded leaders as I strengthen my party, NEDP,” he said.
The latest remarks come at a time when political players are increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 contest, with Ukambani emerging as an important arena in discussions about opposition unity, regional influence and possible political partnerships.
For Sonko, however, the message is clear: he is willing to engage across political divides, but does not want his movements interpreted as evidence that he is somebody’s political project.
