Raila allies in Western upbeat as Wamalwa’s party gains ground

Azimio la Umoja team political leaders led by CS Eugene Wamalwa and Bungoma County Governor Wycliffe Wangamati during a rally at Bungoma Posta ground on Feb 4, 2022. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Allies of ODM leader Raila Odinga in the Western region have accused Ford-Kenya’s leader Moses Wetang’ula and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi of committing political suicide. 

The Azimio la Umoja camp says Mudavadi and Wetang’ula risk becoming politically irrelevant in the vote-rich region for teaming up with Deputy President William Ruto.

They spoke when Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) welcomed Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati of Ford-Kenya to its fold. The party also received 15 ward reps. 

Lugari MP Ayub Savula who was ANC’s deputy party leader but recently defected to Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) claimed yesterday that Mudavadi and Wetang’ula should read the signs of the times.  

He claimed defections in the last one month had left Ford-Kenya and ANC a shell.  

“I led a walkout from ANC to join DAP-K after tasting the Mudavadi’s political betrayal. We won’t give them another chance to lead this region into the opposition. Wamalwa and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya should ensure we have a stake in the next government,” he said. “They should be locked out of the political arithmetic of Western for backing Ruto,” Savula said at Posta Grounds in Bungoma a week after Ruto, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula held a rally at the same venue to proclaim their new-found union.

DAP-K party leader Wafula Wamunyinyi said his party would “wipe the floor with Ford-Kenya” in Bungoma in the August 9 elections.

“You gave me the mandate to reform Ford-Kenya from within but when we realised it was a party that hated reforms, we came back to you with the new baby DAP-K and left the party a shell,” said Wangamati.

He went on: “I am a student of Wamalwa Kijana and an admirer of great Luhya leaders like George Kapten and Martin Shikuku. I know what they stood for. Unfortunately, that is not what Wetang’ula espouses in Ford-Kenya.”

He hinted at the possibility of backing another candidate to face off with Wetang’ula in the Senate race. 

“We want a senator who is not selfish, one who will work with the governor and other county leaders. One who will help revive the sugar sector,” he said. 

Wamalwa said the county wanted change through the Azimio coalition. “You have been here at Posta Grounds since morning and we are approaching evening. That is indication enough that you are yearning for change,” he said.

“I was here in 2012 and endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta for State House. I now predict that the fifth president will be Raila Odinga,” the CS said.

Wamalwa said DAP-K would bring Raila to Bungoma to drum up support for the Azimio coalition which he said has a national face.

He hit out at the bottom-up economic approach fronted by the Kenya Kwanza alliance as “a mere slogan” that cannot transform the economy of the nation.

He said DAP-K is a growing party that would pick up the leadership mantle from Raila in 2027. 

“Raila is the candidate who will open up the presidency to other tribes,” he said.

ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya brought Raila greetings and message to the thousands who gathered in Bungoma.

He called on Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka to join the Azimio train. Wangamati said the move by 30 governors to back Raila could not be taken for granted.