Moses Wetang'ula’s presidential bid billboards in Kakamega destroyed

A billboard of Ford Kenya party leader and also CORD Principal Moses Wetangula at Lutonyi area along Kakamega- Mumias road. Wetngula will launch his Presidential bid on April 2, 2016. [Photo/BENJAMIN SAKWA/Standard]

A billboard in Kakamega town announcing the launch of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula's  presidential bid on April 2 has been pulled down.

The move plays out the new twist that the battle for political supremacy is taking in Western Kenya.

The billboard erected along the Kakamega-Mumias road was removed without the permission of Ford Kenya, whose officials read malice in the whole saga.

The is the latest upset for the launch of Mr Wetang'ula's presidential bid scheduled to take place at the Muliro Gardens.

Ford Kenya officials, and MPs Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) and Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi), accused their rivals of orchestrating the pull-down.

Wamalwa and Wamunyinyi now want CORD leader Raila Odinga to tame the ODM officials opposing the launch.

"Raila should stop Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and ODM's leadership in Kakamega County. The team is frustrating our party boss. We are all Opposition members and deserve respect from our partners," said Wamalwa.

The two lawmakers pointed out that Ford Kenya would rethink its co-operation in the coalition if the humiliation continued.

"Ford Kenya has tolerated the humiliation from ODM for long, and I believe it's time we rethink our stay in CORD. Kakamega is the headquarters for the Mulembe nation and we have all rights to launch the bid there. We are energised and determined to ensure that happens on April 2," said Wamunyinyi.

They further said ODM should not assume that they will win majority seats after the next polls as most of its members have hinted that they will move to Ford Kenya.

Kakamega Ford-K Chairman Abel Mutimba said they would replace the billboard today and ensure it was under tight security.

"It's unfortunate that such an incident happened in the heart of Mulembe headquarters. We are replacing the billboard and installing two more within Kakamega town. Whoever tries to repeat the offence will face the law," said Mr Mutimba.

Western Region Police Commander Moses Ombati also confirmed the billboard's pull-down.

"We received reports of that. We are urging politicians to involve us in their arrangements so that we can respond to such security breaches responsibly," he added.

Governor Oparanya is on record stating that Wetang'ula should launch his bid in Bungoma or Nairobi noting that his party does not have a single elected MP in his county.

Mr Oparanya also stated that Raila would be the CORD flag bearer in next year's polld, and wondered what the Senate minority leader launching in Kakamega.

"We know Raila Odinga is our presidential candidate," he said.