By Andrew Mbuva.
Makueni First Lady Anita Mutula has made good her threat to sue Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo and political commentator Josephat Mutua, popularly known as Professor Musoma or Musoma the Great, over an audio recording that was widely circulated in WhatsApp groups in May.
Court documents show that Anita has filed a defamation suit at the Makueni Magistrate’s Court against Senator Maanzo and Musoma.
In the suit, registered as MCC/E256/2026, Anita is listed as the plaintiff, while Maanzo and Musoma are named as the first and second defendants respectively.
The summons to enter appearance, issued on August 20, 2026, requires the two defendants to enter an appearance within 14 days from the date they are served.
The court documents further indicate that the matter involves a claim for defamation, with the plaintiff having also filed a witness statement and supporting documents.
“Should you fail to enter an appearance within the time mentioned above, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgment may be given in your absence,” reads part of the summons issued by the Makueni Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The legal action follows the circulation of an audio clip allegedly featuring a conversation between Senator Maanzo and Musoma in which the two are heard discussing Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s political future, party loyalty and claims concerning the Governor’s wife.
In one section of the widely shared audio, Maanzo is allegedly heard dismissing attempts to persuade him to join efforts against Governor Mutula.
“Mutula has already been rejected by people. In fact, if I wanted to unseat him, I would just go ahead and contest for the gubernatorial seat in Makueni County,” the Senator is allegedly heard saying.
Maanzo is also allegedly heard distancing himself from what he described as a personal disagreement between Musoma and Governor Mutula.
“You cannot involve me in your own grudge with Mutula because the grudge is because of his wife Anita,” Maanzo allegedly says in the recording.
In another part of the conversation, the Senator allegedly suggests that Musoma’s political differences with the Governor were rooted in personal issues rather than ideological or party differences.
“Telling me to help you send Mutula home is like telling me to help you sort your love grudges, which I am not party to,” he is allegedly heard saying.
The conversation also allegedly captures the Senator defending his loyalty to the Wiper Party and rejecting any attempts to weaken the party’s influence in Makueni County.
“As a Wiper Patriotic Front affiliate, I cannot help you kill our party under any circumstances,” Maanzo allegedly states.
Maanzo is further allegedly heard expressing confidence in Governor Mutula’s political strength ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying that former Makueni gubernatorial aspirant Prof. Philip Kaloki would not defeat the Governor.
“Prof. Philip Kaloki will not make it against Mutula; Mutula will always win the seat,” he is allegedly heard saying.
The audio sparked intense political debate in Makueni after it was widely shared on various WhatsApp groups, with sections of leaders and residents weighing in on the allegations and the political undertones of the conversation.
Anita’s decision to move to court now escalates the matter from a political controversy into a legal battle that could see both Senator Maanzo and Musoma required to respond to the allegations contained in the defamation suit.
The case is expected to attract significant attention in Makueni, coming at a time when political rivalry and succession battles ahead of the 2027 General Election are beginning to take shape.
