Wamalwa stirs supremacy battle in western politics

By Stephen Makabila

Western Province – and by extension Trans Nzoia County – which was the late Vice-President Michael Kijana Wamalwa’s political bedrock, is the turf Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa has been working to inherit over the last three years.

In 2003 following Wamalwa’s death, Eugene contested the Saboti seat on a Republican Party of Kenya (RPK) ticket and lost to Davies Nakitare.

But he made it to Parliament in 2007 with a resounding victory over Nakitare, and after a few months declared he was targeting the presidency on the platform of generational change.

“Political leadership is not about titles or entitlements, but service. We fully recognise the contributions senior politicians have made in expansion of democracy. But greatness also demands they should tell when it is time to hang their boots and make way for succession,” Mr Wamalwa once pointed out.

It is his presidential ambition that has put him in a supremacy contest with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Musalia Mudavadi, the senior most-politician in the Coalition Government from Western Province.

While Mudavadi, who also nurses presidential ambition, is ODM Deputy Party leader, and has to face party leader Prime Minister (PM) Raila Odinga in nominations for the party ticket, Wamalwa has been endorsed by New Ford-Kenya as its presidential candidate in 2012.

Those who have endorsed his presidency include New Ford-Kenya party leader Housing Minister Soita Shitanda, Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale and Nominated MP Musikari Kombo.

Nationally, he is a leading light in the G-7 political alliance that brings together, among others, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

Wamalwa told The Standard On Sunday in an interview, “I do not see Mudavadi abandoning his comfort zone in ODM to give the presidency a serious bid”.

Win support

In 2007, Raila’s ODM won about 60 per cent of presidential votes in Western Province, while PNU, which Eugene was allied to, had 40 per cent.

“The trend is no longer the same.  New Ford-Kenya is popular in Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Kakamega counties. ODM is strong in Vihiga and Busia counties, but we are also set to penetrate the two counties,” Wamalwa said.

Former Ford-People Secretary General, Francis Opar, says Wamalwa has a chance to emerge as a key leader in the region but adds he should work hard for it.

“Unlike Rift Valley, central-Kenya and Nyanza, Western has no single leader who can unite the region. In seeking to control the Western bloc, he has to know apart from Mudavadi, there are others also fighting for the same,” Opar, who comes from Matungu in Kakamega County, said.

Universities Academic Staff Union national chairman Sammy Kubasu says Wamalwa could win support because he has demonstrated he was serious in seeking the top seat.