Leaders urge Maragoli to support Mudavadi in politics

BY ERIC LUNGAI

VIHIGA, KENYA: Western Kenya leaders have urged the Maragoli sub-tribe in Vihiga County to accept and fully support the former deputy prime minister Musalia Mudavadi in his political endeavors as the region’s kingpin and spokesperson.

Led by the former Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, the leaders noted that the Maragoli community deserted Mudavadi during the last general elections by not giving him full support when he vied for the presidency, sending wrong signals to other tribes, altogether.

“Over the years, people have been saying that Mudavadi is a coward. But in the last general elections when he presented himself to the people so that he could be voted in, his followers deserted him and divided his votes. The Maragoli are a very hard nut to crack,” Wamalwa said.

He noted that in as much as Mudavadi was overwhelmingly supported in other parts of Western Kenya, in his home turf, Vihiga, he received little support as the region supported the Cord leader Raila Odinga.  

During the Vihiga Cultural Day on the Boxing Day, the leaders from the region drew their daggers and turned the forum into an avenue of castigating the Luhya community for failing to unite and bring forth a leader who will represent the whole region collectively.

Vihiga governor Moses Akaranga, his deputy Caleb Amaswache, Trans Nzoia women rep Janet Nangabo, MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Alfred Agoi (Sabatia), Ayub Savula (Lugari), Vihiga County Assembly speaker Daniel Chitwa, among other leaders were present.

Wamalwa said that if the region has to forge ahead and forget about the factions that have betrayed the unity of the communities, they will have to dissolve all the parties to come up with a solitary party that will represent the wills of the region.

“Our brothers Cyrus Jirongo, Kenneth Marende and Moses Wetangula, who have declared their interest to vie for the presidency in the near future, should join Mudavadi and other leaders so that they can iron out a few issues and choose the person whom they will present as the region’s leader,” he said.

He further noted that since joining and supporting Mudavadi in December last year up to the general elections on March 4 to the present, he was not going to look back as they were establishing a foundation for greater things to come in the near future.

 “We are in the race forever. Those who think that Eugene and Mudavadi are finished should be very worried because we are putting up a very strong foundation which we will use forever and ever. Navolegwa yita imbongo (he who was despised, killed a buffalo),” he said.

Vihiga MP, Chanzu, noted that since Mudavadi was a very senior person in the government in the past, he should be respected and accorded support by everyone in the region.