Moses Wetang’ula: Raila Odinga hasn’t told me why he skipped presidential launch

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula (left) and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka at Masinde Muliro gardens on Saturday. 

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy co-principal Raila Odinga must heal and reunite the Opposition as he prepares for the pre-election nomination tussle.

His skipping of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s presidential launch, which Orange Democratic Movement officials Sunday insisted was informed by concerns over his, has unsettled the Opposition coalition.

Sunday, Mr Wetang’ula said Raila had not told him why he skipped the Saturday event at Kakamega’s Masinde Muliro Gardens.

Kakamega Governor WycliffeOparanya, a Raila ally, had warned the Ford Kenya leader against taking the event to Western Kenya’s main town, describing it as an ODM zone.

But at a meeting in Nairobi on March 29 attended by Raila, Wetang’ula and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, it was agreed that the launch would go ahead and CORD top leadership would attend as a sign of solidarity.

Wetang’ula, who said Raila had informed him he was to attend the launch but never showed up, Sunday said he had not communicated with the ODM leader.

He added that he was waiting for Raila to come back from Tanzania so that he could explain what made him miss the rally.

“Maybe he was pressed for time and decided to go on with his visit to Tanzania,” he said referring to the visit by the ex-premier to Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s home.

Siaya Senator James Orengo (ODM) who, alongside Johnstone Muthama (Wiper, Machakos Senator) and Eseli Simiyu (Ford-Kenya, Tongaren), had been picked to co-ordinate the logistics of the launch during the meeting that brokered the deal last month, explained that Raila skipped because of the anticipated violence.

“We were told there was a lot of tension on the ground, and we were at Kisumu airport for more than two hours trying to wait for it to calm down and also convince Oparanya to attend the function,” explained Mr Orengo.

Monitoring events

He added: “We could not risk Raila’s security by taking him to the grounds.”

Orengo went on: “The Tanzanian government also called to confirm the time Raila was to arrive in the country so that arrangements could be made to receive him, forcing us to turn back.”

Oparanya, who during the ceasefire talks had been designated as the host of the event, denied responsibility for the chaos and blamed Wetang’ula’s “many enemies”.

“I am not the one who sponsored the goons. I am a peaceful man. Wetang’ula has many enemies and they are the ones who could have tried to disrupt the meeting,” Oparanya maintained.

When asked why he did not attend the meeting, Oparanya said the rally was exclusively a Ford Kenya affair and he is an ODM member.

“The rally was a Ford Kenya meeting and that is why I did not attend,” said the governor.

But according to Orengo, Raila was concerned about Oparanya not attending the launch, but after the meeting on Saturday at the airport and at the Rock Motel in Kisumu, the governor was persuaded to go.

But a few minutes after the convoy of more than 15 leaders left, it stopped following reports that there was tension on the ground, Orengo added.

Oparanya explained he was with Raila in Kisumu at the time of the rally and they were monitoring the unfolding events in Kakamega.

Orengo and Nyando MP Fred Outa said they left Nairobi together with Raila at 9am on Saturday headed to Masinde Muliro Gardens since Raila had to attend the launch by 10am.

Orengo said they were forced to land at Kisumu International Airport after they were informed about the chaos at the venue. Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir gave the same version of events.

Eseli Simiyu, the Ford Kenya secretary general said: “What happened is not good for CORD. The matter should be resolved quickly so that we can remain strongly united.”

Ford Kenya will still pursue its presidential ambitions in the Opposition coalition, he added.

“We will go to all parts of the country to popularise our preferred candidate,” he maintained.

Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyiyi, who is also the Ford Kenya Bungoma County chairman, claimed the violence was choreographed to derail Wetang’ula’s ambitions.

But the Opposition leaders accused the Jubilee government of having a hand in the chaos to divide CORD.

Prophet of doom

Orengo said one of the ways in which those in authority would want to restrict movement of rivals is by denying them security.

“Denying Raila his entitlement to security is meant to make his life difficult, but he is used to such intimidation since he has operated in worse scenarios before,” Orengo said.

But Wetang’ula assured that the Opposition coalition was not headed for a split.

“I do not want to be a prophet of doom. We have our agreement that we will walk together come what may. The rally was attended by members from ODM, Wiper and Ford,” said Wetang’ula.

Wetang’ula spoke when he visited Kenya’s first independence Education Minister Joseph Otiende at his home in Kegoye, Vihiga County.

Mr Otiende sustained injury on his head during the fracas at Muliro Gardens during which a teargas canister was lobbed at the VIP dais.

“I cannot imagine that someone lobbed a teargas at Otiende who is 99 years old. The doctors have assured us that mzee is out of danger,” said Wetang’ula. The senator said any disunity in CORD would give Jubilee an “early Christmas” something that the leadership of the Opposition would not dare allow.

“We are not going to go our separate ways because of what happened. We will remain united firmly for us to win elections next year,” he added.

Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma blamed Wetang’ula for provoking ODM supporters and courting danger.

“By moving from Nairobi or his base in Bungoma and choosing Kakamega, he played into Jubilee propaganda schemes to portray CORD as undemocratic and unable to hold together in the face of competition,” claimed Mr Kaluma.