For Moses Wetang’ula, his fallout with ODM leader Raila Odinga was noisy and messy, as he predicted in 2018 when he orchestrated his removal as Senate’s Leader of Minority.
The foremost consequence has been a rather reduced public profile for the seasoned parliamentarian and eloquent debater from Bungoma.
His party’s dismal performance in the Kibra by-election added a further significant dent to an image in need of restoration. As he wades into 2020, the Bungoma Senator will want to reflect on how to revamp his image.
Together with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, they must find the formula for taming their upstart detractors in the western region once and for all.
Already, Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli is scheming to bury the two politically. Mr Atwoli has planned for a major meeting in Kakamega on January 18, 2020.
The object of the rally, according to those in the know, is to berate Wetang’ula and Mudavadi for what Atwoli calls ineffective leadership. It is instructive that Atwoli announced the date for the meeting at a function attended by the ODM leader and his wife Ida at Atwoli’s home in Khwisero.
The meeting is basically expected to rally the Luhya solidly behind Atwoli and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, as the two new voices speaking for the Luhya.
In the long-run, the community is expected to rally behind the BBI, through the two, and back Raila for the fifth presidential bid in 2022. If Wetang’ula and Mudavadi have ever needed each other, this is the time.