Jubilee’s persistence may tilt scale in battle to lure Western region vote

With just two months to the August Polls, Western region remains cast up for grabs with Ford Kenya and Amani National Congress struggling to hold firm on their perceived stronghold.

Ford Kenya’s leader Moses Wetang’ula has raised the storm of what might be the undercurrent war in the National Super Alliance (NASA) saying they will do everything to lock out Raila Odinga’s ODM from the region, a move that will offer Jubilee the chink, big enough to explore and stake claim to its 1.9 million voters.

“Let Raila not impose leaders like Wycliffe Oparanya on us. We will campaign for Boni Khalwale and other Ford Kenya leaders," said Wetang'ula.

The Bungoma Senator, who will be defending his seat, said this on a day his constituents welcomed Deputy President William Ruto and affirmed their support for Jubilee.

“ODM will not get seats in the region," said Khalwale, who is Ford Kenya Secretary General, in a public rally in Kakamega.

Deputy President William Ruto has called on western Kenya residents to back the Jubilee during the August poll for guaranteed development. Ruto who was in Kimilili said the opposition will soon run out of excuses and campaign ideas as they tackle the shortage of Unga. He said the region must support the government, which has shown its dedication to fight poverty and warned the opposition against promoting what he termed as politics of division and hatred.

With no candidate for the Presidency, western bloc is arguably the hottest battle ground and with the high defection to Jubilee, the ruling coalition may have its biggest support from the region, which will go a long way in pushing for its constitutional requirement of 50 per cent plus one to reclaim the presidency on the first round vote.

Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali over the weekend said that Jubilee is now more popular in the region just like Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC and Ford Kenya while dismissing ODM's popularity.

"ODM has lost the ground. They will be lucky to get at least two seats in Kakamega or Busia. Jubilee will win most seats," said Washiali.

Former ODM youth leader Rashid Mohammed (MP aspirant Mumias West) said NASA is a blackmail to the community. He said Mudavadi and Wetang'ula were shortchanged in the NASA line-up.

"We cannot allow few people to auction the community for their personal interests. We left ODM and we cannot go back. We are in Jubilee," said Mohammed.

According to a research conducted by Infotrak Research and Consulting in March, it found out that Jubilee was stronger than Wiper Democratic Movement in Eastern region and Ford Kenya in Western Kenya and the huge turnout in Busia and Kimilili for Jubilee leaders is a clear show the region is angling towards the ruling coalition.

The popularity of Jubilee party in Western Kenya, where Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetang'ula hails from stands at 11.3 per cent while the later enjoys support of 10.6 per cent.

The research findings may pose to be disheartening news to supporters of Amani National Congress (ANC) boss Musalia Mudavadi, as only 2 per cent of the members of the public in his Western backyard, affirmed their support for the political outfit.