Wetang’ula will get seat back, says Raila

By Daniel Psirmoi, Robert Wanyonyi and Brian Tumwa

Bungoma, Kenya: CORD leader Raila Odinga has exuded confidence that his co-principal Moses Wetang’ula will recapture the Bungoma Senate seat during Thursday’s by-election.

Speaking at a campaign rally to drum up support for Wetang’ula in Kimilili, Raila poured scorn on people he alleged stole his victory and added that they are the same people behind Wetang’ula’s woes, which led to the nullification of his win.

“I appeal to you to put them to shame by re-electing Wetang’ula back to the Senate on Thursday,” he said.

“When he spoke at the Senate, walikuwa wanatetemeka (they would shiver). That is why we chose him as the Senate minority leader. Please assist him to get back his seat,” said the former prime minister.

Already failed

He hit out at the Amani coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi and New Ford Kenya’s Eugene Wamalwa for trying to create a wedge between him and the Luhya community, noting that he traces his lineage to the Wanga kingdom.

He instead asked the duo and their candidate Musikari Kombo to base their campaign on real issues.

“I still insist that the Bungoma contest is between Jubilee and CORD. That is why Wetang’ula’s rivals are asking people to vote for them so that they get to the same government that has sidelined most Western residents and especially members of the Luhya community,” said Raila.

He asked the residents to make a smart choice noting that the current Government has already failed, eight months since it took over, citing the passage of oppressive Bills like the VAT 2013, Media and NGO’s Bill and the talk of retrenchment of civil servants.

Raila was accompanied by senators James Orengo (Siaya), Catherine Mukite (nominated), MPs Suleiman Murunga (Kimilili), Dr Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza) and Major John Waluke (Sirisia).

Addressing campaign rallies at Kimilili, Misikhu, Lugulu and Webuye towns in the company of both Kakamega Senator Bonni Khalwale and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Raila termed Mudavadi a dishonest person for vain attempts to turn the electorate against him.

The CORD leader said Mudavadi should be the last person to claim that Raila is dividing the Luhya community even with his (Mudavadi’s) own close association with individuals within the Jubilee government.

Wetang’ula took issue with Bungoma County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed’s involvement in the campaigns and accused him of trying to meddle with how the various candidates have drawn their campaign programmes by allocating venues.

He maintained that the CORD rally slated for Posta grounds in Bungoma town today would go on as planned in spite of a late communication from Mohammed that the venue would be used by the Amani team.

“That is the earlier campaign programme that we submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) when they requested for the campaign itinerary for all candidates,” said Wetang’ula.

He called on the IEBC and police to ensure adequate security before, during and after the Thursday exercise, saying some information has it that a certain candidate has planned to cause chaos and blame the CORD team. Wetang’ula exuded confidence that he will recapture his seat.

Other contestants in the race include former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli of the Labour Party of Kenya and journalist David Makali, who is running as an independent candidate.