Luhya leaders to unveil presidential candidate in December

COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli [Photo: COLLINS ODUOR/Standard]

Central Organisation of Trade Union Secretary General Francis Atwoli has said Western region will unveil its preferred presidential candidate for 2017 in December.

Speaking in Eshibinga village, Kakamega County on Saturday during the burial of Julius Shikhule, he said the community will chart its political agenda through this candidate.

“In December, we must have the region’s presidential candidate who will automatically be the community’s spokesman,’’ he stated.

Atwoli said that even though the region is the second most populous, voting patterns have been non-impressive because people lack voters’ cards.

He asked the locals to register as voters and exercise their democratic right in order to support the region's presidential candidate in the forthcoming general election.

"The declaration we are going to make is for the community vote. It is not against any leader in this country but for the benefit of unity. It will also be a message that western will never be a walk in walk outs,''Atwoli opined.

Atwoli has had several meetings with politicians, elders and stakeholders from the region who are in support of his initiative.

The Cotu boss has also tasked a few University students to conduct a research to determine who among the three presidential candidates in western was more popular.

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, Cord co-principal and Bungoma senator Moses Wetang'ula and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo have declared they will run for presidency in the forthcoming elections.