Loose Cannon Ken!

The 1965 British comedy classic, Carry-On Cowboy, satirizes the archetype of an inexperienced outsider navigating the perilous landscape of the Wild West. The protagonist, wholly unskilled in the art of gunfighting, boldly confronts seasoned sharpshooters despite lacking the dexterity to draw and fire a weapon with the requisite speed. In a surprising turn of events, he triumphs in a duel against a highly skilled adversary—an outcome that underscores the comedic premise of an unqualified contender achieving improbable victories.

This portrayal raises the question: can reckless individuals truly succeed, or is their triumph merely a product of comedic exaggeration? Empirical reality suggests that such unpredictability rarely yields success in high-stakes scenarios. More often than not, those who act impulsively and without strategy succumb to scrutiny and failure under pressure. However, it is worth considering whether what is perceived as victory is, in fact, something else entirely. Given that a "loose cannon" is neither designed nor expected to achieve precision, it would be naïve to anticipate rationality from those who embody such erratic behavior—especially within the realm of politics, where flamboyant figures often emerge despite their disregard for calculated decision-making.

Ken Chitatata Msonda, a prominent yet controversial figure in contemporary political and business discourse, has garnered recognition for his unconventional approach to leadership and decision-making. His well-known assertion, “I have no political enemies,” has become emblematic of his public persona. Msonda first gained prominence in 2005, a pivotal period for Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL), as the company faced challenges related to privatization. At the time, he served as the Chair of MTL’s Board of Directors and was a vocal opponent of its proposed sale for $30 million to a private consortium, which included Telecom Holdings Limited—a Malawian conglomerate composed of Press Corporation Limited, Old Mutual, Nico Holdings, and the Deutsche Telekom affiliate Detecon.

Msonda’s opposition was rooted in his conviction that corporate governance should uphold both profitability and employee welfare. His valuation placed MTL’s worth at approximately $200 million, significantly higher than the proposed sale price. He argued that privatization at such a diminished valuation would result in mass retrenchment, a scenario he deemed unacceptable. His unwavering stance positioned him as a defender of corporate integrity, advocating for equilibrium between commercial viability and social responsibility.

However, the trajectory of Msonda’s career over the ensuing decades has transformed perceptions of his leadership. While initially regarded as an assertive and principled strategist, his evolving public image now aligns more closely with that of a “loose cannon”—an unpredictable figure whose actions challenge conventional expectations. The juxtaposition between his early corporate advocacy and his later political engagements presents an intriguing case study in leadership dynamics and the fluid nature of public perception.

Ken’s Political Life

The trajectory of Kenneth Msonda’s political career remains somewhat ambiguous, particularly concerning the period during which he chaired the board of Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL). Whether he simultaneously operated as a covert functionary within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or transitioned to the United Democratic Front (UDF) as a consequence of his dissatisfaction with the privatization of MTL remains a matter of speculation. However, political appointments are frequently drawn from the ranks of loyal party affiliates, a trend that may provide insight into his shifting affiliations.

It is important to note that Msonda was a founding member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Brown Mpinganjira, before swiftly aligning himself with the UDF in 2001. The precise nature of his political allegiance at that time remains uncertain. However, from 2006 onward, Msonda increasingly voiced criticisms of the ruling DPP administration, ostensibly under the guise of his role as UDF’s publicity secretary. Given the tendency for corporate board chairs and directors to be politically appointed individuals who exhibit allegiance to the incumbent government, it is plausible to interpret his actions within that framework.

During his tenure within the UDF, Msonda appeared to position himself strategically, waiting for an opportune moment to advance his political and professional interests. This calculated approach suggests an acute awareness of the intersection between political positioning and economic opportunity, reinforcing the notion that political maneuvering often serves as a conduit for access to influence and resources.

This opportunity dawned with the demise of President Bingu wa Mutharika, and the subsequent ascension of Joyce Banda, as state president in 2012. Ken had to play his cards to find his way into the political corridors of power again access the tap into the public purse once more. One can only start to question, the patriotic, humanistic characters, for the welfare of others, had faded, or one can give King Ken the benefit of doubt that he was preparing his retirement package. The nation was right on the edge to fully understand Ken’s clandestine motives.

Reports suggest that during his tenure as the publicity secretary of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Kenneth Msonda was allegedly instrumental in efforts to destabilize the party and obstruct Atupele Muluzi’s bid for the presidency. It is claimed that he orchestrated an internal faction in support of Humphreys Mvula’s candidacy, utilizing a court injunction to prevent the anticipated national convention, which was widely expected to favor Muluzi.

Following the high court’s decision to lift the injunction, Msonda faced physical retaliation from UDF loyalists, who allegedly confronted him in a hostile manner. Speculation arose that both Msonda and Mvula had received financial incentives from the then-ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), fueling allegations of political maneuvering for personal gain. According to a Nyasa Times report dated January 10, 2012, titled “Msonda Quits UDF Because of Frustration,” his departure from the party signaled the beginning of a complex and evolving political journey, one that would cement his reputation as a contentious and unpredictable political figure.

The gold-digging appetites for Ken were not adequately quenched under the short spell of People’s Party ruling from 2012 to 2014, after an embarrassing loss of PP’s political campaign smeared by the infamous cashgate scandal. Ken’s allegiance to the out-of-power People’s party faced an abrupt end, when 2 years later, he jumped ship to join the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. I would describe King Ken’s political career, as nothing short of good luck and grace, noting his ability to switch across enemy camps willy-nilly. This definitely attests his own ‘I have no political enemies’ rhetoric hypothesis. This signaled King Ken’s second spell in DPP, again whilst it was in power, to ensure he remained as close as possible to the public purse, one would only suppose. During his welcome speech, King Ken narrated that ‘politics has no syllabus, one need to observe the political pendulum, how it is swinging’.  

His Democratic Progressive Party spell appeared to be strong as long as DPP was in power over the years ahead of the 2020 elections. In one situation, during a press conference, Msonda contradicted with the position of the party, when he made a press release in April, 2020, insulting the five constitutional high court judges for ruling to hold a rerun election, without the blessing of the authorities of DPP, pressing the party in contempt of court ruling. This presser which was quickly nullified by DPP’s publicity secretary, should have sounded an alarm of the Msonda’s machinations of things to come, DPP should have fired Msonda immediately. But that’s not how politics works in Malawi.

Three years later, Ken Msonda resurfaced in a de-javu fashion of his UDF era, who at this time he was a member of National Governing Council, to have another controversy of seismic proportion. This time he was at the centre of creating a fraction inside the party to support Kondwani Nankhumwa's candidature against the incumbent Peter Mutharika. He was a point of reference in 2023, by the party’s president Peter Mutharika, that Msonda was not a member of DPP, but a member of PP. When was known to be part of the fraction which felt unimpressed with Mutharika’s ambition to be the party’s torch-bearer in 2025 and had conducted an ‘illegal’ National Governing Committee (NGC) meeting in Lilongwe in which they announced dates for their next convention. This embattled fraction led by the former Secretary General, had push the party into a pandemonium of court cases after another to force a national convention and elect their desired candidate. According to a news article released by 247malawi.com on the 14^th December, 2023, Ken Msonda was regarded as the strongest critic of Mutharika making many Malawians linking him to have joined the MCP led government alongside others such as Kondwani Nankhumwa, Grezelder Jeffrey, Nicholas Dausi, among others.  It is very much ironic that Mutharika, being the president of the party, accepted and endorsed a candidate, who appears to have been a member of another party except DPP, as a National Governing Council member. I would assume that proper due diligence was not conducted or some stories are missing from what the public was presented.

In January, 2024, the DPP expelled Ken Msonda, among other candidates, after an elongated disciplinary hearing and assessments. This expulsion gave Msonda a license to aspire for another opportunity to be close to the public purse, as his character is renowned for. It was already noted that Msonda had a divisive character demonstrated by the illegal presser in 2020, however, the DPP NEC did not deem it necessary to either discipline Msonda or expel him then. Like I have already indicated that Msonda served in the NGC, as a member, yet it had been common knowledge that he had been moving from political party to another. In March 2024, the Maravi Post reported that Msonda made a bold decision to join Malawi Congress Party in Mzuzu, quoting it as a surprising turn of events. The article acknowledges that Msonda, has a history of switching political parties, and that senior members of MCP wondered his motives and loyalty. The most recent political highlight came in the name of a primary elections’ loss, in Rumphi East Constituency, Msonda suffered, at the behest of Alfred Nyasulu who amassed a victorious 508 votes almost a year later, in March 2025. 

After this loss, Msonda had become the most vocally provocative spokesperson for the ruling party uttering quite divisive and derogatory statements such as the following:

1.      On October, 2024, Msonda narrated that ‘Mutharika intends to join MCP’.

2.      In June, 2025 Msonda attacked DPP’s claim that Malawians are suffering citing that it is all due to ‘Malice’ and ‘Bitterness’ of DPP’s situation out of power.

3.         In June, 2025, - MCP’s Ken Msonda Hits Back at DPP, Labels Party a ‘Criminal Enterprise’

4.      In May, 2025, Msonda in responding to pre-elections violence that occurred in Mponela narrated the following: ‘Truth must be told to shame the devil and DPP propagandists in Malawi. DPP is good at dirty propaganda to seek public attention and sympathy. It is alleged that the torching of the vehicle was done by DPP leaders themselves’. (Times, online, website: https://times.mw/political-parties-fault-each-other-on-violence/)

5.      In May, 2025, in order to make an impression, Msonda declared that ‘MCP will rule Malawi until the second coming of Jesus Christ’.

M  My Take on Msonda's political style.

Msonda’s outrageous political comments have not only been uncommon, but have also been a political trademark for his career. He is the modern-day spin-doctor of the ranks of Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba, but he seems to do it in your face. Whilst we can ably track Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba political journey to have merged from MCP to have ended with DPP, Msonda’s journey is quite elongated, interwoven and complicated. Like a chessmaster, he waits until he sees a good move, and may offer a pony to get to the king. He shoots like he is already blindfolded. He doesn’t care about the aftermaths of his statements, in the moment of his utterances. He is a potential candidate to offend you, no matter how calm and composed you may think you are. The true litmus test for anger management.

I would believe that his character symbolizes the most unstable and deluded political caricature of our Malawian political landscape. Having switched from National Democratic Alliance to United Democratic Front to PP (assuming that he was not a political activist under Bingu’s governance) to Democratic Progressive Party to and lastly Malawi Congress Party, Msonda demonstrates the most outrageous political opportunism unparalleled.  His most constant derivative is that he comes out of a political party when it loses an election and joins the political party in power at least as long as it remains in power. He will prove his loyalty whilst he is accessing the intricacies and benefits of being in government, but that loyalty will get tested the most the political party gets booted out of government. He is loyal but my analysis informs me that this loyalty is towards himself and himself at most.

The loss of primaries is indicative of his failure to win the trust of the majority MCP loyalists, convincing them of his failure to demonstrate steadfastness in the political game. I would advise any political party never to allow his character come close to your politburo, as that would sow some seeds of disloyalty in the long run, and chicken would easily come home to roost. Loose Cannon Ken wins all the time, a chance for glory dawns his way and your conclusion is as good as mine, ‘he is the opportunist shooter’!