Wetang’ula, Khalwale take on Kombo

BY ROBERT WANYONYI

BUNGOMA, KENYA: Former Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale have launched a scathing attack on the Amani Coalition as the senatorial campaigns enter the homestretch.

At a campaign rally in Malakisi market, Sirisia constituency, Mr Wetang’ula and Dr Khalwale joined by Nyamira Senator Kennedy Mong’are, MP James Lusweti and a host of county representatives from both CORD and the Amani coalitions told the Jubilee administration to stop hiding behind the Amani Coalition in offering support for Musikari Kombo ahead of the December 19, by-election.

Wetang’ula warned the Jubilee administration to desist from its trend of trying to manipulate Bungoma people into electing Mr Kombo in order to continue the infamous “tyranny of numbers” in both houses.

“The decision to elect a senator is purely for the people of Bungoma County and no one in Nairobi should try to pull strings secretly for our people who they have side-lined in all government appointments,” said Wetang’ula.

He added: “The candidate himself (Kombo) has not made matters any better by teaming up with fellow sycophants to state clearly that he must be elected as senator in order for the Government to bring us development. Is such a statement not a clear admission of their collusion?”

The Ford-Kenya Party leader termed the election petition case filed by Kombo that saw his election as senator during the March 4th general elections nullified as a blessing in disguise as it has enabled the people of the western part of Kenya and the North-Rift region to come together and face their common enemies as a block.

“Even after the by-election, I will continue going around the entire region to work with my fellow leaders to unite our communities even further,” pledged Wetang’ula.

Khalwale worked up the crowd with claims that the Amani Coalition ceased to exist before the March 4, General Election adding that for that reason, former Deputy Prime-Minister and UDF Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi has no reason to label him a rebel for opting to support Wetang’ula in the Bungoma by-election contest.

The Kakamega senator said immediately parties that comprised the Amani Coalition opted to separately sign post-election pacts with the Jubilee government, they got swallowed in the governing coalition.