Western Kenya leaders differ over political direction as 2017 poll beckons

Former Lugari Mp Cyrus Jirongo (left), Amani National Party leader Musalia Mudavadi and Kakamega County Senator Dr. Boni Khalwale (right). [Photo:BENJAMIN SAKWA/Standard]

With slightly over a year to the August 2017 General Election, Western Kenya leaders are grappling with the dilemma of whether to form a regional party or support the two main coalitions.

During last weekend’s burial of businessman Jacob Juma in Bungoma, the differences among leaders played out in the open as those who spoke proposed different strategies.

While Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale is of the idea of rallying behind CORD, Jirongo believes the Luhya community’s best interests are in forming a regional outfit that will bring all political parties in Western under one umbrella. “We need to meet as leaders and strategise. It is only under one outfit that we can form alliances with other communities and stand a chance of forming the next government,” said Jirongo.

The former MP said the Luhya community should put its house in order before joining other coalitions. “We are not joining CORD now because we know we will be forced to jump off along the road. Let us we put our house in order first,” he said.

Jirongo said the region’s leaders must unite and form a formidable force to oust Jubilee from power. Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi supported Jirongo, saying the region should strive to unite under one umbrella.

“We will support a good idea. One common objective is to remove Jubilee from power in 2017. We only need to respect each other and have unity of purpose,” said Mudavadi.

Although CORD co-principal Moses Wetang’ula wants the community to support CORD, political pundits say his differences with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya may make it hard for the two to join forces.

Supporters of Wetang’ula, who is the Ford Kenya party leader, and Oparanya, the ODM deputy party leader, clashed during the former’s presidential bid launch in March. Political analyst and lawyer Martin Oloo says the most critical thing for the region is to have one voice. “It should not be about joining CORD or Jubilee. Leaders from Western need to pull together and bargain for their people,” says Oloo. “No one is going to take the Luhya serious if they remain divided because they will be known as the people who like filling other people’s baskets. Some of these leaders are talking for themselves and they will always go for what suits them.”

Wetng’ula is adamant that Jubilee has no support in the area.

“Anybody in Western with plans to contest a political seat on Jubilee ticket is bound to fail,” he said. The Senate Leader of Minority warned Jubilee-allied MPs that their days are numbered.

“The place you went for shelter is not conducive. Come back to where you belong,” he told Bumula MP Boniface Otsiula.

Other leaders from the region who support Jubilee are Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, MPs Ben Washiali (Mumias East), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Mary Emase (Teso South).