Cheruiyot challenged Kalonzo to explain persistent underdevelopment in Kitui County, which the Wiper leader has represented politically for decades.
Cheruiyot said he was surprised to see Kalonzo agree with claims attributed to Gachagua that leaders from Northern Kenya had looted public resources, leaving the region underdeveloped.
According to the senator, such arguments ring hollow when applied selectively, especially given the development record of Kalonzo’s own backyard.
“Kalonzo, if you agree with Gachagua that leaders from Northern Kenya have looted public resources, then in Kitui, who looted, since it is as underdeveloped as Marsabit?” Cheruiyot posed. “Yet he has been the leader all these years.”
Cheruiyot argued that leadership should be judged by tangible outcomes rather than political rhetoric.
He noted that Kitui, despite producing a senior national leader for many years, still struggles with poor infrastructure, limited industrial growth, and inadequate public services, challenges similar to those faced by historically marginalised counties such as Marsabit.
The senator accused Kalonzo of engaging in what he termed convenient politics, where leaders criticise others for underdevelopment while avoiding scrutiny of their own regions.
He insisted that development disparities cannot always be blamed on looting by specific communities, but must also account for leadership choices, priorities, and long-term planning.
“I was surprised to see Kalonzo agreeing with Wamunyoro,” Cheruiyot added, referring to Gachagua.
“Yet Kitui is as underdeveloped as Marsabit. We must be honest with Kenyans.”
Cheruiyot’s remarks have intensified political exchanges as leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Analysts say the comments reflect a broader debate on accountability, equity, and the role of long-serving politicians in addressing regional inequalities.
Kalonzo Musyoka has not directly responded to Cheruiyot’s criticism, but allies argue that underdevelopment is a systemic issue influenced by national policies and resource allocation, not individual leaders alone.
The exchange underscores rising political temperatures as leaders trade blame over development records, governance, and responsibility, with regional comparisons increasingly shaping national political discourse.
