By Standard Reporter
Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the troubles facing former ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Eugene Wamalwa.
Jirongo is the brains behind a fresh political vehicle rolling through Western Kenya.
The wealthy politician, who lost to Bonny Khalwale in the Kakamega senatorial contest, is keen to bolster his position in the region after the big push for unity during the last General Election.
Observers say Jirongo could be positioning himself to rope in support in the event a petition against sitting Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya succeeds.
“Jirongo is busy fishing for poll losers in the last General Election,” claims a Mudavadi insider.
“Most of them were Mudavadi’s political students. He has the money and the means to execute this grand raid. Whenever you hear Jirongo speaking of Luhya unity, there is definitely prey before him. This time round, it could be the Kakamega governorship.”
Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale says Jirongo was engaging in a losing battle, maintaining that his Luhya unity call was a lullaby. “What the community requires is leadership that is in tandem with the grassroots,” said Khalwale in a recent interview. “If Jirongo thinks that he can succeed with boardroom meetings to front himself, he is on a losing mission.”
The vocal senator castigates Mudavadi for “allowing himself to be used” by President Uhuru Kenyatta on several occasions.
“I have a serious problem with Mudavadi bending low before Uhuru for a post-poll deal that has not borne fruits even after he was humiliated in a pre-election deal,” he said. “This is not what the community expects from him.”
Whatever the situation, observers maintain that Mudavadi must devise a formula to stem Jirongo’s machinations to ensure his political relevance.
Two weeks ago, Jirongo and former Housing Minister Soita Shitanda, who also lost the Kakamega governorship bid, convened what they called a Luhya consultative meeting.
The event endorsed Jirongo to spearhead a “2017 Luhya mission”.
Those at the meeting, which was held at a Kakamega hotel, included: Former Shinyalu legislator Justus Kizito, politicians Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Khalid Njiraini (Luanda), Justine Mutobera (Mumias East) and Charles Werangai (Lugari), among others.
Shitanda revealed that he would ditch New Ford Kenya for an undisclosed party that would marshal Luhya support with Jirongo’s backing.
“We lack leadership. That is why we lost in the last elections,” he said at the meeting in what was interpreted as a protest against Mudavadi and Wamalwa in the Amani coalition umbrella.
“I am going to move out of New Ford Kenya for a party that can bring us all together.” Recently, at the funeral of Mama Rhoda Amukhole, mother to former Assistant Minister Sande Mukuna in Vihiga, Jirongo did not mince his words.
“I am ready to steer this ship forward. We want to unite under one banner and offer leadership. I will lead the community towards this realisation.”
His apparent attempt to write Mudavadi’s political obituary this early in the game will make for an interesting period in Western Kenya politics.
Previous calls to have Luhya votes under one umbrella has, however, been unsuccessful.
