Coalition leaders intensify hunt for Western vote

By Stephen Makabila

The battle for western Kenya region kicked off in earnest yesterday, with two high-profile rallies by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his former ally turned rival, deputy PM, Musalia Mudavadi.

Straight from being nominated by their separate Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) and Amani alliances as presidential flag bearers, Raila and Mudavadi hit the ground running. It is not by accident that both leaders have kicked off joint rallies in western Kenya.

As campaigns intensify, focus will be on the region, where both Raila and Mudavadi enjoy support. Native residents of the region are members of the populous Luhya community.

As the two politicians charmed voters in the region, an opinion poll released yesterday morning posted Raila with a favourable approval rating of 51 per cent as compared to a paltry three, in favour of Mudavadi.

The poll by Infotrak Harris identifies Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta with an approval rating of 39 percent as Raila’s closest opponent.

Among western Kenya voters, where Raila and Mudavadi are holed up in campaigns this weekend, the poll shows Raila with an edge of 62 per cent as compared to Mudavadi’s 23 per cent. Considering the survey was however conducted between December 28 and January 2, before Mudavadi’s official presidential launch, the figures may change ahead of the March polls.?

Speaking the Muliro Gardens yesterday, the PM revisited the flopped deal between Uhuru and DPM Musalia Mudavadi adding that the move showed the level of dishonest between Ruto and Uhuru.

“You all know what they did to Mudavadi. Are these leaders you can bank on to transform this nation?” posed the PM. Raila said that he could trace his roots in the Wanga community adding that those who urge the community not to vote for him because he was not one of their own were wrong.

He added that he had joined hands with leaders from the community led by Wetangula and Jirongo to ensure that their agenda were addressed in his government.

“We have an agreement with Wetangula which I promise to stick to. I will not short change you the way the other leaders did to my brother,” said Raila.

Raila’s CORD got a boost last Wednesday ahead of the rallies following the entry of the combative Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, who is angling to fly the Cord flag for the populous Kakamega county senator position.

“After detailed discussions with members of the CORD Alliance, the Federal Party’s organs have resolved to join the Cord Alliance and? support the candidature of Raila?? and? Kalonzo ?for the positions of President and Deputy President of Kenya,” read Jirongo’s statement.

CORD hit the campaign?? trail on Friday in the provincial capital, Kakamega , while Amani was in Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa’s Bungoma stronghold on the same day. Wamalwa is backing Mudavadi’s presidential bid.

Raila’s Chief Campaign Manager, Mr Eliud Owalo, told The Standard on Saturday, “Our popularity rating in Western Kenya currently stands at 80 per cent,yet we have not yet done much campaigns in the region. This popularity rating will rise to 90 per cent by the end of this Month before attaining a high of 95 per cent by the end of February 2013.”  Owalo further noted, “We have a message to deliver to the people of Western, just as we do for other parts of the country. We have an elaborate campaign programme for the entire country, and our visit to Western Kenya or Trans-Nzoia for that matter this Weekend is therefore not unique.”

In what good demonstrate why the region is going to be a battle ground, Mudavadi and Wamalwa are determined to seal it off, with Wamalwa declaring its no-longer a swing-vote but a bloc vote (in this case for Mudavadi), even as Raila seem determined to hold on to the support he received from the region during his 2007 ?presidential bid.

CORD affiliates

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who is Raila’s presidential running mate has even cautioned? it would be suicidal for Cord affiliates to field separate candidates in Western? province as it would give Mudavadi’s? UDF an upper hand.

Jirongo who has vowerd to turn tables?against opponents of CORD?in the region agued, “CORD carries the most pro-equity agenda among the 3 top pre-election?alliances. CORD’s Presidential candidate,? The Rt Hon Raila Odinga recognises that Kenya is made up of different communities and is prepared to negotiate between diverse interest groups.”

Today CORD raids Wamalwa’s Trans-Nzoia County? while Amani will pitch tent in Kakamega? in an attempt to erase CORD’s gains.

Tomorrow, the Cord team will head to Bungoma to wind-up the?Western tour?? as Amani? hits? Kitale the same day before heading to Busia on Monday and Vihiga on Tuesday.  After rounding up Western in a five-day marathon, the next destination for Mudavadi and his brigade will be the voter Rift Valley province.

Western province’s four counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga, plus the neighbouring Luhya dominated Trans-Nzoia County have 1,666,339 registered voters going by the IEBC final tally.

However, votes the Luhya? nation can deliver, inclusive of those who registered outside the five counties, stand at an estimated two million votes.  Its ironic that the two coalitions are hitting the region the same weekend, with each blaming the other for mischief.

Wamalwa in an interview with The Standard on Saturday, declared CORD was playing reactive politics, and that its Amani which planned the rallies first.

“They are in a state of fear because of the Amani coalition strength. They are running scared but I want to? tell them they haven’t seen? nothing yet,” said Wamalwa.
However, ?Owalo noted it was CORD which planned the rallies first, before Amani followed suit.

Being the first destination after being unveiled as the Amani presidential candidate at Bomas, in a coalition between his UDF, Wamalwa’s New Ford-Kenya and Kanu headed by Gideon Moi,? Mudavadi seem to be consolidating his home-turf first before venturing out in search of support elsewhere.

Mudavadi maintains he has?? sufficient resources to mount a serious presidential campaign, and that he was not a ‘third force’ but an alternative source in the race for State House.

“Why should anyone criminalize attempts by Luhyas to be united,” posed Mudavadi on a live TV interview?mid-week.

Raila has personally indicated was focusing on ensuring the Luhya community vote for him as a bloc in the coming election.

“The Luhya community would be wasting their votes if they divided them...they should vote for me because CORD is going to form the next government,” said the PM at the home of Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli in Khwisero Constituency during a party hosted for him by his supporters from the area on boxing day last year.