Eugene boosts Mudavadi’s presidential bid

By Peter Atsiaya and Eric Lungai

MBALE, KENYA: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Musalia Mudavadi’s bid for president got a boost when Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa backed him.

Mr Wamalwa shared a platform with Mudavadi at a rally at Mbale Municipal Council Grounds in Vihiga County and declared that he would stand by the DPM.

“I have come here in Mbale to declare that I will stand by my brother Mudavadi and shame the political hyenas who had hatched a scheme to divide the Luhya votes in the next General Election,” said Wamalwa amid cheers from the crowd.

He added: “I want to tell political hyenas who wanted to take Luhya votes to the lake and others to Mt Kenya that we are united and we will defeat their scheme.” The minister noted that he had discussed with his colleagues in the Eagle alliance on bringing Mudavadi on board and they welcomed the move.

Sealing the deal

“I have talked to Peter Kenneth and Raphael Tuju and they are ready to join hands with Mudavadi for a third force that will change the leadership style of this country,” he added. Mudavadi, while accepting Wamalwa’s support, said he would meet the Saboti MP in Nairobi to finalise the deal with him.

“I am happy with the gesture my brother has shown here. Both of us are travelling to Nairobi and we will meet before the week ends to make the deal permanent,” said Mudavadi. He added that cooperation between him and Wamalwa would be key to the unity of the Luhya community and ensure that they voted for him as a bloc.

“We have the numbers and we are targeting to either be number one or two so that we battle it out in the run off,” said the Sabatia MP. The two presidential aspirants were addressing crowds during celebrations to mark the Maragoli cultural festival yesterday.