Western MPs pray for embattled Senator Moses Wetangula, urge IEBC to be fair

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula addresses a crowd at Kitale Posta Grounds Saturday. He said he would not be cowed by threats to strike him off the voters’ register. [PHOTO: OSINDE OBARE/STANDARD]

KITALE: Prayer rallies for CORD co-principal and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, whose political career hangs in the balance, kicked off in Kitale with leaders asking the electoral body to uphold its independence.

Hundreds of residents turned up for the prayers at Posta Grounds yesterday and attended by MPs from the Opposition. Bishop Fred Simiyu, chairman of local churches, led the prayers assisted by Bishop Andrew Wafula.

Western MPs expressed solidarity with the Bungoma senator and accused the Jubilee administration of plotting to end the political career of the Ford-Kenya leader.

A week ago, Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro gazetted the March 17 ruling of the Supreme Court indicting Wetangula for the electoral offence of bribery in the 2013 General Election. This has the potential of ruining the Opposition’s strategy in 2017 if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) decides to strike the senator off the voters’ roll.

Those present at the prayer rally included senators Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Henry Ole Ndiema (Trans Nzoia) and Catharine Mukite (Nominated), Deputy Governor Stanley Tarus (Trans Nzoia) and MPs Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza), Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi), Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos) and Enock Kibunguchy (Likuyani).

Wamalwa and Eseli defended Wetangula against accusations of electoral offences and argued that the Director of Public Prosecutions had given him a clean bill.

“Wetangula is innocent but people in the Jubilee Government are out to end his political career. We are not going to allow this to happen,” warned Wamalwa.

He urged the IEBC to be fair and delete Wetangula’s name from the register of voters, claiming the Government was pushing the commission to do so.

“We are going to die with Wetangula. We are ready to pay the price for his political career. Let IEBC be warned that we are watching every step it is making in this matter,” the MP warned.

He said it was wrong for the Government to resort to intimidation and oppression instead of tackling economic mess troubling the country as a result of runaway corruption.

Kibunguchy asked the Government to listen to the voices of the Bungoma people and not manipulate IEBC to oppress opposition leaders.

The leaders told off three leaders from Western region, whom they branded traitors working with the Government to fight Wetangula.

“We know the Government wants to eliminate Wetangula from the presidential race by deleting his names from the register but we are warning Luhya leaders working with them in this game that they will face the wrath of the community,” warned Senator Khalwale.

Khalwale asked the IEBC to demonstrate its independence by rejecting political manipulation to silence Wetangula.

And Wetangula said deleting his name from the register of voters was not a solution to economic woes and vowed that such an act would not stop him from voicing the concern of Kenyans.

He said he will not be cowed by threats to delete his name from the poll register and told the Jubilee alliance to expect a tough contest in the 2017 General Election.

“I’m not scared of anything because my conscience is clear,” he said. “As the Opposition, our role is to voice the concerns of Kenyans and put the Government on toes so that it takes its responsibilities seriously.”

Wetangula said the Jubilee Government had failed Kenyans by allowing individuals to loot public coffers and enrich themselves.

Similar rallies are scheduled for Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega and others areas across the country.