By Stephen Makabila and Daniel Psirmoi
Deputy President William Ruto and CORD leader Raila Odinga will Saturday address separate meetings in Kakamega County.
While Ruto will preside over the homecoming of MPs Moses Malulu (Malava) and Emmanuel Wangwe of Navakholo Constituency, Raila will be the chief guest at the homecoming of Butere MP Andrew Toboso.
Both CORD and Jubilee have since March 4 General Election engaged in political battles over the control of Western, and many see the parallel meetings today as an extension of supremacy battles between the two rival coalitions.
Ruto’s visit
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Wangwe Friday defended Ruto’s visit to the county, noting most MPs in Western had decided to co-operate with the Jubilee government for development purposes.
“Navakholo is benefitting from the Government. The expected tarmacking of Kakamega-Navakholo-Bungoma road and the rural electrification project kicking off in the constituency are just but some of the benefits that are coming out of this co-operation,” said Wangwe.
He said Navakholo remains the poorest constituency in Western, and that its leadership must work with the Government of the day to improve infrastructure and empower the local community.
“We have no health facilities and water, while over 10,000 children in this new constituency suffer from jigger infestation,” added Wangwe.
‘Stomach politics’
Wangwe and Malulu have also strongly dismissed claims of “stomach politics” advanced by some CORD leadership and vowed to continue working with Jubilee to realise development for their constituents.
Malulu also said former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was set to attend today’s meetings in Malava and Navakholo alongside Ruto. Other leaders in the region working with Jubilee include Lugari MP and Parliamentary Agriculture Committee chairman Ayub Savula, Bumula MP Boniface Otsyula, Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu, Mumias MP Ben Washiali, Matungu MP David Were and Mt Elgon MP John Serut.
Meanwhile, a legislator from Western Kenya has promised to mobilise other political leaders from the region to campaign against plans by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to emend the Constitution.
Speaking to The Standard on Saturday in Kapsokwony, Mt Elgon MP John Serut vowed to team up with his pro-government colleagues to resist any push to support the referendum.
“We the Jubilee aligned MPs from Western Kenya will marshal our constituents and frustrate any efforts of getting one million signatures,” he said.
