Kombo kicks off Bungoma senate seat campaigns

By GRACE WEKESA

Bungoma, Kenya: The race for the December 19 Bungoma senatorial by-election is all set after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission cleared all the four candidates who are set to view for the seat.

The candidates who will be battling for the seat include former Senator Moses Wetangula (ODM), former Cabinet Minister Musikari Kombo (New Ford-K), former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli (Labour Party of Kenya) and journalist David Makali (independent candidate).

Amani coalition flag bearer Musikari Kombo was the first one to kick off the campaign on yesterday.

He promised to carry out vigorous but peaceful campaigns.

“Today I am happy after the nomination yesterday to be a candidate in the Bungoma senatorial race. I urge my fellow competitors to carry out peaceful campaigns. Our county has been affected by insecurity in the recent past and we should not have blood shed for political gains this time,’’ said Kombo.

He also urged the electoral body to put in place systems that will curb a repeat of election discrepancies that led to nullification of Bungoma senatorial seat.

“IEBC should ensure that what occurred on March 4 is not repeated, we’ve raised critical issues with them and I hope they will act soon. We are in these campaigns as Amani coalition to offer the best leadership to our people,’’ he said.

Community endorsed

Kombo was accompanied by several leaders among them former Minister Eugene Wamalwa, MP Alfred Sambu, Bungoma women representative Reginalda Wanyonyi and Bungoma county leader of minority John Musakali.

Speaking during the launch of the campaign, Sambu who is the leader of Kombo’s campaign team, said that their opponents should stop calling Kombo a Jubilee project.

“Our friend Kombo is a man who has a vision for the county of Bungoma and its his wish to be given a chance to realise the dream he has for the people of this great county. So those who are spreading propaganda terming him a jubilee project are misled,” Sambu said.

Former minister Eugene Wamalwa expressed his concern over the state of security by telling the people to vote peacefully and avoid being incited by politicians to fight as it has been the case in previous elections.

“We want all of you to turn out in large numbers and vote peacefully,” Wamalwa said.

Wamalwa insisted that Kombo was the best candidate to be given the senatorial seat because even ODM officials in the county preferred him for the seat.

“Kombo has the support of all Bungoma people including officials of ODM from the nine constituencies. This demonstrates that the party will record a win in the election come voting day,’’ Wamalwa said.

Wamalwa further criticised the CORD coalition for not supporting the Nyumba Kumi initiative.

“We are in full support of the Nyumba Kumi initiative and we want to send a clear message that we are no part of jubilee. The Nyumba Kumi initiative will increase security in Bungoma,” Wamalwa said.

Kombo received a boost in his bid for the seat last week after Sabaoti community endorsed him for the seat together with a section of ODM members from the county.