UDF reps walk out on Wetang’ula as he takes on Mudavadi

By Eric Lungai

Vihiga, Kenya: Members of County Assembly (MCAs) allied to United Democratic Forum party in Vihiga County walked out on Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula in protest after he made a scathing attack on Musalia Mudavadi, the party leader.

The MCAs said they couldn’t stand the humiliation in front of their supporters. Mr Wetang’ula accused Mr Mudavadi of “selling the Luhya community to the ‘dogs’,” by persistently begging President Uhuru Kenyatta to give him a job, much to the fury of the MCAs who walked out silently in protest.

“If I want to be president of this country, I can’t be begging President Kenyatta to give me a job every now and then. Those begging Uhuru for jobs should stop immediately. Our dignity and respect as a community is compromised every day by leaders who don’t have a stand and continually beg the President,” Wetang’ula said.

Wetang’ula was speaking during the thanksgiving ceremony of Lugaga-Wamuluma Ward Representative Wilberforce Kitiezo at Mbihi Secondary School, Vihiga.

Governor Moses Akaranga, his deputy Caleb Amaswache, MPs Wilbur Ottichilo and Chris Omulele were among the leaders who attended the function.  Responding to these claims, Mudavadi’s Secretary of Press Kibisu Kabatesi dismissed Wetang’ula and termed him as a ‘coward in the baying herd.’

“We should save ourselves the agony by listening to him in silence because his display is of political insomnia. Such are prone to exert violence. That is why it is commendable that people remained restrained while he howled copied rhetoric and later walked out on him in protest,” Mr Kabatesi told The Standard.

Wetang’ula had further poked at the quest for Luhya unity, saying Mudavadi and former Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa were being used by other forces to frustrate the efforts by the Luhya community to unite.

He claimed that his senatorial nullification by the High Court last year was a machination of the two (Mudavadi and Wamalwa) who later ganged up to put him down despite knowing he was bound to recapture the seat.