What Is Charity "Mama Rainbow" Ngilu Really Up To?

Recent outbursts by Health minister Charity Kaluki Ngilu hitting out at the Kibaki government of which she is a part of have left many people puzzled.

Is she trying to quickly take advantage of the rapidly waning popularity of one Kalonzo Musyoka, her rival for supremacy in Ukambani for many years? Or is she the desperate woman with a flagging political career that most in the Kibaki regime are trying to paint her as.

Firstly there are a few little known facts about Charity Ngilu's real power in Ukambani. Many have suggested that in a popularity contest in Ukambani she would stand no chance against Kalonzo. This is not true. To start with she enjoys the unique advantage of holding formidable sway in both Kitui and Machakos. In the days before Kambaland was divided into many districts there were just two, Kitui and Machakos. At times there has been open rivalry between the two that has divided the Kamba community right down the middle. These old rivalries still crop up when political temperatures rise. Ngilu's huge advantage is that she holds sway on both sides of the divide. She is originally from Mbooni in Machakos but got married to a man from Kitui where her current political base is. The person who would really sweat it out (even if they were to ultimately win) in a political contest between the two would be Kalonzo because apart from her influence in Kitui and the environs, Ngilu is hugely popular in her native Machakos. With recent political developments many believe that Ngilu would easily win such a contest just now.

It is also no secret that Ngilu has used her Health portfolio to gain immense political capital. Some (including this blogger would say that she has abused her office). Ngilu's appointments at the ministry are notorious for being able to answer fluently to the popular greeting Mwi Aseo which means in Kamba, are you guys fine? In sharp contrast, Kalonzo has done nothing for the Akamba even as he aspires to be a national leader.

Many inexperienced analysts are saying that Ngilu has been inconsistent in her political stand. The truth is that you will rarely meet a shrewder politician. During the referendum, it was obvious that there was no political capital to be gained immediately from being on the Orange side. Besides retired president Moi was on that side and Ngilu still hates him with a passion. So Ngilu went Banana and supported Kibaki—with conditions. At the end of the day she got what she wanted.

Now that the elections are around the corner, Ngilu has to quickly re-invent herself. It is therefore not surprising that she has chosen to hit out at the government at every opportunity she gets as a way of endearing herself to the public so as to be perceived as a 'hero' for taking a shot at her employers.

In her latest salvo, Ngilu accused the government of being arrogant and aloof as well as reneging on the promises made in 2002, having thrown collective responsibility through the window, Ngilu added that the government has failed the people of Kenya. The exact sentiments of a large section of the ordinary folk in Kenya at the moment.

There is no doubting the fact that what Ngilu is going for this time round is not bargaining power, but the highest price of all. Namely the presidency of Kenya. She has no doubt been closely following developments at ODM-Kenya where tensions are most likely going to lead to the much-anticipated split. In all the chaos that is sure to follow, Ngilu is carefully positioning herself as the ideal possible compromise candidate.

Her critics and enemies will these days not fail to point out the damaging sex scandal that hit the attractive middle-aged politician late last year when she was reportedly caught in the back of her Mercedes vehicle in a compromising position with her alleged long time lover Tony Gachoka. The incident was at the Parklands sports club where the drunken couple was caught red handed by the clubs security guard whom Gachoka threatened to no avail as he reported the matter to club authorities who withdrew his membership.

A few months later in December, the minister's husband died in South Africa after a long battle with hypertension and diabetes that was aggravated by his bad drinking habits. Gachoka wore a white band on his left arm over his black suit during the funeral and was among the main organizers.

Soon after the funeral, Ngilu was secretly admitted at a private clinic near Nairobi hospital where she stayed for three days. Close confidants say she was suffering from depression and exhaustion. To her, the world was falling apart, they add. Since her trusted political friends in government had betrayed her, her husband was dead and the alternative media had extensively covered her sex scandal with the notorious city gigolo.

But those who know Ngilu insist that depression and exhaustion are not the sort of things you associate with the daring Ngilu who fought Kanu at a time when few men (including one Kalonzo Musyoka) had the balls to even whine. They also argue that what Ngilu does in her private time is not anybody's business just like nobody pokes their noses into what her male colleagues in the august house usually get up to, even when they are supposed to making up the quorum to discuss pressing national issues.

If Ngilu does make another stub at the presidency, then she will have the huge advantage of a previous similar experience in 1997, which will no doubt be a huge advantage. Sadly the biggest disadvantage will be the fact that Kenyan voters (just like their counterparts in America) may not be quite ready for a woman president just yet.

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