By Love Wambua
The political storm surrounding Makueni Senator Daniel Kitonga Maanzo continues to intensify after residents of Mbooni rejected his recent apology and demanded that he issue a formal and direct statement addressing remarks contained in a leaked audio recording.
Speaking during a peaceful demonstration at Mbumbuni Market in Kiteta-Kisau Ward, residents said the apology circulated by the Senator did not meet public expectations and failed to directly address the concerns raised by the controversial recording.
The demonstrators vowed to continue their protests until Maanzo issues what they described as a proper and official apology.
The growing public anger is now beginning to affect the Senator’s operations on the ground.
Investigations by The Anchor established that both the Senator’s offices in Mbooni and Mbumbuni remained closed amid rising tensions and fears of possible demonstrations by aggrieved residents.
The office closures come as the fallout from the leaked phone conversation spreads across Makueni County, with residents, women’s groups, professionals and political leaders continuing to condemn the remarks allegedly directed at Makueni First Lady Anita Mutula Kilonzo.
Meanwhile, the controversy has entered a new phase with organizers planning an “Occupy Senator’s Office” protest at Maanzo’s headquarters in Wote.
A poster circulating widely on social media calls on residents to converge at the Senator’s office, accusing him of bringing the office into disrepute through the alleged remarks.
Organizers have adopted the slogan “Maanzo Must Go”, signalling a shift from demands for an apology to calls for political accountability.
The poster describes the planned demonstration as a defence of “unity, dignity and respect” in Makueni County and urges residents to reject what organizers term as attacks on the dignity of women and county leadership.
The planned protest is significant because it targets the Senator’s official office in Wote, the county headquarters, potentially placing him under direct pressure from constituents as public outrage continues to grow.
The escalating campaign suggests that what began as a controversy over a leaked audio recording is rapidly evolving into a broader political crisis for the Senator.
Maanzo has since issued a public statement expressing regret over the controversy and apologizing to those who may have been offended, including the First Lady and women of Makueni.
However, critics argue that the apology failed to directly address the substance of the remarks that sparked the uproar.
Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has offered to mediate between Senator Maanzo and Mutula Kilonzo Jr. in an effort to restore harmony and prevent the dispute from deepening political divisions within the county.
With constituency offices closed in Mbooni and Mbumbuni and protesters preparing to march on the Senator’s Wote headquarters, the controversy shows little sign of fading.
Instead, it appears to be moving from social media and political statements into organized action on the ground, raising fresh questions about the political cost Maanzo may ultimately have to pay.
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