Top Luhya politicians reject plan for kingpin

ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

Plans to crown a new Luhya kingpin have been dismissed by politicians from western Kenya.

Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi (pictured) and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula have dismissed the event slated for next month.

Western Council of Elders chairman Philip Masinde has also distanced himself from the arrangements.

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya announced on December 26 that the Luhya community, and by extension the people of western Kenya, would converge at the Bukhungu Stadium on January 18 for the grand rally.

According to Mr Oparanya, the event will present an opportunity for leaders to strategise and agree on the way forward politically.

The governor made the announcement after meeting ODM leader Raila Odinga at the rural home of Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli.

The meeting has fueled speculation that Raila could have discussed his 2022 succession plans and the possibility of Oparanya being crowned as the region’s spokesperson during the upcoming event that has been christened Bukhungu II.

Wetang’ula distanced himself from the arrangements saying the move could "confuse and divide the Mulembe nation even further".

The Bungoma senator argued that Atwoli had no mandate to crown anyone as the community spokesperson.

“He is trying to reinvent people who are past their date of sale. I have reached out to Mudavadi and we have agreed to consolidate the community and, by extension, Western. We have nothing to do with Atwoli’s gimmicks and antics,” said Wetang’ula.

Mr Masinde said they had not discussed anything to do with Bukhungu II at Atwoli’s home.

“We were there briefly and left before Raila and his team arrived. Our discussion revolved around the Building Bridges Initiative report because we were informed by Oparanya and Atwoli that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila would be visiting in January over the report.”