DNK International As President William Ruto embarks on a development tour of Ukambani beginning today (Saturday), October 24,former Machakos Senator Johnston Nduya Muthama is emerging as one of the politically significant figures whose networks could influence the President’s reception in the region ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
Muthama, a businessman, veteran politician and former chairman of the ruling UDA party has spent decades navigating Kenya’s political landscape, building relationships across party lines and establishing himself in the lucrative gemstone trade.
His political journey, which has taken him from the National Assembly to the Senate and later to the leadership of UDA, has been characterised by shifting alliances, fierce political contests and a long standing association with Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
He was born on October 20, 1954 and his background is a story of humble beginnings, business determination and an eventual rise to national political prominence.
Unlike many politicians whose careers began in established political families, Muthama built his fortune through business before entering elective politics.
His experience in the gemstone industry helped him develop commercial networks, financial resources and relationships that would later become important in his political career.
In a previous interview with Daily News Kenya-International, Muthama disclosed that he grew up in a modest family in Machakos and faced financial difficulties that interrupted his early education.
He attended Kyamulendu Primary School but reportedly left school at Standard seven because of lack of school fees.
His departure from formal schooling did not end his pursuit of knowledge.
He undertook studies in gemology, the scientific study of gemstones, at the Gemological Institute of America.
In later years, Muthama pursued further academic qualifications, including a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from Arden University, where he reportedly graduated with first class honours.
In July 2025, he graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Master of Public Administration, adding an advanced public administration qualification to his business and political experience.
His educational journey, from an early interruption in formal schooling to university level studies, has been one of the notable aspects of his personal story.
Muthama’s commercial success was built largely around the mining, trading and export of precious stones, particularly rubies and garnets.
His entry into the gemstone business is associated with his early employment at mining operations in Taita Taveta County, where he reportedly worked as a tea boy before rising through the ranks.
His uncle, Francis Kalinzoya according to Muthama introduced him to the mineral trade.
Muthama later on developed his own business interests, eventually becoming a prominent player in Kenya’s gemstone industry.
Through Rockland Kenya Limited and other business interests, he developed commercial operations linked to gemstone mining and trading.
His business portfolio has also included real estate, agriculture and other investments.
The gemstone trade exposed him to international markets, including buyers in Asia, and helped him accumulate the financial resources that supported his entry into the competitive world of politics.
A 2015 profile by one of the local dailies described Muthama as a businessman with a keen eye for precious stones, highlighting the commercial foundations of his wealth and his involvement in the ruby trade.
His experience in business has remained an important part of his public identity, distinguishing him from politicians whose careers have depended almost entirely on elective or appointed positions.
Muthama entered elective politics during the 2007 General Election, when he was elected Member of Parliament for Kangundo Constituency on the ODM-Kenya ticket.
His victory marked his transition from a relatively low profile businessman to an influential political figure in Ukambani.
In Parliament, he served as a government chief whip, a position that gave him experience in parliamentary organisation, political negotiations and the management of political interests within government.
He subsequently became a key figure in the political arrangements involving Kalonzo Musyoka and the broader opposition coalition that brought together different political formations during the 2013 and 2017 election cycles.
Muthama was elected Machakos Senator in the March 2013 General Election, becoming the first senator to represent the county under the devolved system established by the 2010 Constitution.
His election elevated him to the national political stage, where he became known for his outspoken interventions, aggressive political mobilisation and willingness to challenge opponents.
As senator, he was associated with the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, commonly known as CORD, and maintained a close working relationship with Kalonzo, who was then a leading national opposition figure.
Muthama’s influence during this period extended beyond his formal responsibilities as senator.
He presented himself as an important negotiator in political arrangements involving Kalonzo and other national leaders.
He has repeatedly claimed to have played a significant role in negotiations that led to Kalonzo’s appointment as Vice-President under former President Mwai Kibaki following the disputed 2007 General Election.
In a number of media interviews,Muthama asserted that he had been instrumental in the negotiations that secured Kalonzo the position.
“When he (Kalonzo) was with me, he became Kibaki’s vice-president,” Muthama said, defending his role in the negotiations.
The statement reflected his conviction that his contribution to Kalonzo’s political advancement had been substantial.
However, the relationship between the two leaders later deteriorated, culminating in a bitter political fallout that reshaped Muthama’s political direction.
Muthama did not seek re-election as Machakos Senator in 2017 following his disagreement with Kalonzo and the political establishment around Wiper.
His departure from the Senate was therefore not the result of losing a re-election contest.
Instead, he left the seat without defending it, opening a new chapter in his political career.
The fallout with Kalonzo gradually pushed Muthama towards a new political alliance with William Ruto, who was then Deputy President under the Jubilee administration.
Muthama became one of Ruto’s prominent allies in Ukambani as the latter prepared to contest the presidency in 2022.
His support for Ruto placed him at odds with a significant section of the Ukambani political establishment, which remained loyal to Kalonzo and the opposition coalition associated with the late Raila Odinga.
The rivalry became particularly pronounced during the 2022 election campaigns, when Muthama used his political networks to advance Ruto’s presidential ambitions in a region widely regarded as Kalonzo’s political stronghold.
His appointment as chairman of UDA placed him at the centre of Ruto’s political machinery.
As party chairman, Muthama helped mobilise political support, coordinate party activities and build alliances as UDA expanded its national footprint ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Ruto eventually won the presidency, defeating Raila in a closely contested election, and Muthama’s position within the ruling party reinforced his reputation as a political organiser with experience in coalition building and negotiations.
His contribution to UDA’s political rise earned him recognition among Kenya Kwanza leaders, although the extent to which his personal influence translated into votes in Ukambani remained a subject of political debate.
Muthama left the UDA chairmanship and became a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission, an institution responsible for providing services and facilities to Parliament and its members.
His appointment to the commission in 2023 allowed him to retain a formal role in public service despite no longer holding an elective parliamentary seat.
The position also demonstrated that Muthama’s political career had not ended with his departure from the Senate.
His relationship with Ruto has been sustained by a combination of political loyalty, shared strategic interests and Muthama’s familiarity with the political dynamics of Ukambani.
For Ruto, Muthama offers experience in political negotiations and access to networks within a region where the opposition has historically enjoyed considerable electoral support.
However, the President’s ability to convert such relationships into votes will depend on several factors, including the popularity of his administration, the delivery of development projects, the strength of local candidates and the willingness of voters to support the ruling party.
The significance of Muthama’s political influence is likely to be tested as Ruto begins his latest tour of Ukambani.
The President’s four-day programme, running from October 24 to October 26, includes engagements in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties, with planned activities covering roads, water infrastructure, electricity connections, affordable housing, markets, education and other development projects.
The opening engagements in Machakos County give Ruto an opportunity to begin his regional campaign in the political backyard of Muthama, whose knowledge of local political networks could be useful in identifying influential community leaders and explaining the government’s development agenda.
The tour is also an opportunity for the President to communicate directly with residents who have traditionally supported opposition leaders, particularly Kalonzo.
If the announced projects are implemented successfully, they could help strengthen Ruto’s appeal among voters concerned about infrastructure, employment, agricultural markets, water access and economic opportunities.
Nevertheless, development announcements alone may not guarantee political support.
Residents will also assess whether the projects address their immediate needs and whether promised funding and implementation timelines are honoured.
Muthama’s own electoral record also offers a reminder that political influence at the national level does not automatically translate into victory at the ballot.
In the February 2021 Machakos senatorial by-election, the UDA candidate, Urbanus Ngengele, lost to Agnes Kavindu Muthama, Muthama’s former wife, who contested on a Wiper ticket.
The outcome was politically significant because it demonstrated Wiper’s continuing strength in the county despite Muthama’s efforts to advance Ruto’s political interests.
It also underscored the difficulty of dislodging Kalonzo’s political influence in Ukambani, even with the resources and organisational capacity of a national ruling party.
For Ruto, Muthama’s value therefore lies not simply in his business wealth or past party position, but in his ability to help the government understand local political grievances, establish relationships with community leaders and mobilise support for its agenda.
Muthama’s political story has also taken a fresh turn following his recent reunion with Kalonzo.
On October 1,the two longtime political associates held a private meeting in Nairobi, triggering speculation about the possibility of a renewed political understanding ahead of the 2027 elections.
The meeting attracted particular attention because Muthama has spent recent years in Ruto’s political camp, while Kalonzo remains a leading opposition figure positioning himself for the next presidential contest.
Muthama confirmed the meeting took place and described Kalonzo as his “brother and longtime political friend.”
He explained that their discussions covered national issues and matters affecting the lives and well-being of Kenyans.
“Our conversation provided an opportunity to exchange views, reflect on the current national situation, and consider the way forward on issues of importance to our nation and our people,” he said in a statement.
He did not announce any political agreement or indicate that the meeting had resulted in a new alliance.
The reunion nevertheless raised questions about whether Muthama could play a role in opening communication between the government and sections of the opposition.
Given his previous involvement in political negotiations involving Kalonzo, Muthama is familiar with the dynamics of coalition building and the difficult calculations surrounding the distribution of political positions.
His renewed engagement with Kalonzo could therefore have implications for the 2027 election, although it would be premature to conclude that the meeting signals a plan by the Wiper leader to work with Ruto.
Kalonzo has publicly maintained his opposition to Ruto’s administration and rejected suggestions that he intends to join the President’s government.
The October meeting may instead reflect a personal reconciliation, consultations on national issues or an attempt to reopen communication between leaders whose relationship has been strained by years of political competition.
Whatever its ultimate significance, the encounter demonstrated that Muthama continues to maintain relationships across political divides.
His political history is filled with memorable remarks that reveal his confidence in negotiations and his belief in his own role in shaping political outcomes.
During his fallout with Kalonzo in 2020, Muthama declared his intention to establish a political outfit capable of challenging Wiper’s dominance in Ukambani.
“I challenge him to do something better than what we did together,” he said,reflecting the bitterness of their political separation and his determination to prove his influence independently.
In another widely reported remark in 2022, he defended his role in securing Kalonzo’s appointment as Kibaki’s Vice-President, insisting that his involvement in the negotiations had helped elevate the Wiper leader to one of the country’s highest offices.
Such statements have contributed to Muthama’s image as a politician who is outspoken about his contribution to political deals and unwilling to remain in the background when discussing his role in major national developments.
His career has not been without controversy.
Like many prominent politicians and businesspeople, he has faced public scrutiny over his business dealings and political activities.
He has also received national recognition for his contribution to public life.
On December 12, 2024, he was conferred the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear, one of Kenya’s national honours.
The award added to a career that has combined private enterprise, parliamentary service, party leadership and political negotiations.
At 72, Muthama remains an important figure in the political calculations surrounding Ukambani, although his precise ability to influence the region’s voting patterns is difficult to quantify.
His greatest political test may be whether he can help Ruto make inroads into a region where loyalty to Kalonzo has remained a powerful feature of electoral politics.
If he succeeds in helping the ruling party build credible local alliances and demonstrate tangible development results, his influence could become an important asset in Ruto’s re-election campaign.
If the President’s message fails to resonate with residents, however, Muthama may find that his national political connections and commercial success are insufficient to overcome the enduring strength of opposition politics in Ukambani.
As the 2027 election approaches, the former senator’s journey from gemstone trader to political negotiator offers a compelling illustration of the relationship between business, political alliances and regional influence in Kenya.
His reunion with Kalonzo, continued association with Ruto and experience at the highest levels of party politics ensure that he remains a figure to watch as Ukambani prepares for another consequential electoral contest.
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🗓️ [Daily News Kenya-International@October 24,2026]
