We were humiliated during President Uhuru Kenyatta's tour of Western, senators now say

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Governors from Western Kenya who called on him at State Lodge, Kakamega.

KAKAMENGA: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Western last week has generated heated debate over alleged mistreatment of some senior local leaders. The President looked happy and excited throughout the two-day journey, but the visit left Senators Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and George Khaniri (Vihiga) with a bitter taste in the mouth because they were allegedly not only isolated from other leaders but were also mistreated.

Despite their protests, Jubilee leaders appear determined to stamp their authority in the region because Deputy President William Ruto will again be in Kimilili today for a fundraising, where he will be hosted by Water CS Eugene Wamalwa, Governor Kenneth Lusaka and other leaders.

The Western leaders claim some local leaders and President’s handlers plotted to humiliate them during the visit and that they were not invited despite the fact that most functions were in their backyards.

The three, plus Busia Senator Amos Wako and his Trans Nzoia counterpart Henry ole Ndiema were conspicuously absent at private meetings hosted by the President, most notably at Kakamega State Lodge where he spent the night after meeting governors, MPs and members of the County Assembly from the five counties.

NO CHANCE TO TALK

Both Wako and Ndiema could not be reached to explain why they did not attend, but the three senators claimed they were all left out because they are in the Opposition and have been critical of the Jubilee Government. Speaking to The Standard on Saturday, Wetang’ula and Khalwale pointed out that apart from not being invited officially to the private meetings, the Government and those in charge of the programme further humiliated them at stop overs, where none was given a chance to greet the people.

“The President’s coming to my county was worthy my attention as the area Senator but I was denied a chance to speak during stop overs at Sirisia, Chwele and Mayanja, places where I live. My speaking later at Kibabii University was a result of public demand,’’ said Wetang’ula.

They further claimed those who hold divergent opinions were not allowed to speak and were denied a chance to sit at the presidential dais despite being elected leaders.

Jubilant residents received the President accompanied by DP Ruto, Wamalwa and Governor Lusaka among others at all stops, but the senators remained isolated and appeared to be watching events as they unfolded from far.

“Confusion marred the trip which achieved nothing. Ignoring elected leaders and not giving them a chance to speak and place to sit was their biggest undoing. Thank God, they did not invite me to speak, they would have lived to regret it,’’ said Khalwale. The Senator was on the President’s motorcade all through until Kibabii, where he left in a huff, claiming no seat had been reserved for him and could therefore not just stand there.

Although Wetang’ula had been largely ignored during the stop overs where the President and a few leaders especially Ruto, Eugene Wamalwa and area MP John Waluke took centre stage in greeting the crowds, he was invited by Ruto to speak at the final meeting where the President awarded Kibabii University a charter.

DIVERGENT VIEWS

But when the DP invited Khalwale to speak, saying “niliona Bull fighter hapa, yuko wapi? (I saw the Bull fighter here, where is he?), it emerged that he had already left. Reacting to the treatment meted on him, Khalwale said Uhuru and Ruto belong to the old school of politics.

“I walked out because we are not beholden to them. The role of Opposition has been defined and the Government must learn to live with leaders with divergent views,’’ he said.

Khaniri added: “Elected leaders should be respected and humiliating our colleagues was uncalled for. That is the reason I didn’t attend the function. I was also not invited, it was difficult to tell how I was going to be treated.’’

The three senators and other CORD leaders have in recent weeks been at the forefront of criticising Jubilee on corruption and poor state of the economy. But Uhuru has dismissed the Opposition and termed their criticism as mere rhetoric.

Speaking from his Maji House office, CS Wamalwa said it was wrong if Khalwale was indeed harassed by anyone but denied claims that the Senators were isolated and exposed to ridicule.

“It would be unfortunate if he was mishandled in any way and I will condemn that if it is true because all leaders should be accorded the due respect they deserve,” said Wamalwa.

Wamalwa, however, asked all leaders to forget sideshows and instead express their gratitude to the President for commissioning projects that will change the economic outlook of the region. “By accepting to be Chancellor of Kibabii University, the President has cemented himself in the region and voters will definitely remember in 2017,” he said.

Apart from granting the university a charter, he also opened an immigration border post, commissioned a 37-kilometre tarmac road, two water projects and asked the Treasury to inject Sh500 million into Nzoia Sugar Company.

He also instructed that Bungoma Hospital be upgraded to referral status and Webuye District Hospital be upgraded, projects which Wamalwa said will boost the region.

‘NOTHING NEW’

But the senators further termed the development projects as ‘nothing new’, saying former President Kibaki had already commissioned them during his tenure. “There is nothing new that was opened. Former President Kibaki sent the late Otieno Kajwang’ as his Immigration Minister to open the border post in Lwakhakha. Why was Uhuru purporting to launch a new project? This is taking our people for a ride,’’ said the Vihiga Senator.

He added: “Awarding a charter to Kibabii University is a duty any government must do. The rest of the goodies were a hoax and publicity stand. Western region will not be swayed towards Jubilee’’.

Khalwale echoed his sentiments and said when Uhuru and his DP visit Rift Valley and central regions they launch projects worth billions of shillings and even quote the cash allocated but in Western such is not demonstrated.

“Projects launched in Western were a big joke. The Korea water project in Sirisia was initiated when Wetang’ula was Foreign Affairs Minister,’’ observed Khalwale.

Wamalwa said Uhuru assured them that he will continue working with local leaders in the area and among issues discussed was revival of the ailing sugar industry, tarmacking of roads and revival of collapsed Pan Paper Mills in Webuye.

In Kakamega, the Government will give priority to reviving the sugar industry in the country through allocating additional funds to Mumias Sugar Company. The Government will also repair and maintain the Kakamega-Kaburengu Road to make it passable, as it waits for the ruling by the International Arbitration Court at The Hague where the contractor seeks redress having lost locally in a case he is to be scrapped off the contract for not fulfilling the project as expected.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said his Government is planning for a new school of nursing as part of the expansion of Masinde Muliro University.

In Trans Nzoia, the President said more surveyors will be sent to Kitale to accelerate land adjudication.