MP: Why Luhya leaders need to be wary of dealing with Raila

Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga. He maintains Odinga’s closeness with the Jubilee administration was a ploy to replace the Luhya with his cronies. [File, Standard]

Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga has cautioned Luhya leaders to be wary of ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Mabonga alleged Raila's new found closeness with the Jubilee administration was a ploy to replace members of the Luhya community with his cronies.

Speaking in Tulumba, Bumula constituency yesterday, Mabonga stated that Raila was trying to be the middleman for Luhya leaders to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"It is now surprising that Raila Odinga is the one assembling Luhya leaders in the pretext that he wants to help them meet President Kenyatta over what our region needs. This is a big joke," he said.

Mabonga claimed that should a Cabinet reshuffle be done; some people will be replaced by allies close to the former premier.

Mabonga called on the leaders from the community to have a sit down and decide the way forward and speak unity.

He said the small divisions within the community was making leaders from other areas have a free pass in deciding the political journey and future of the Luhya community.

"Now that we are not speaking with one voice, Raila is now taking advantage and telling us what we should do and where we should go," he said.

Mabonga further called on Ford Kenya Leader Moses Wetang'ula and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa to incorporate other leaders in their unity for it to survive.

The MP said that if an all-inclusive Luhya unity is not achieved, then the region will lag behind in development as no person will want to associate with them.