Savula accuses Malala, Natembeya of sowing discord in Western

DG Ayub Savula speaks at Grace Revival Ministries in Kakamega on July 21, 2024. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has accused UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya of being used by external forces to sow divisions in Western region.

Savula said that some politicians are unhappy with the nomination of ODM leaders to Cabinet.

"They are afraid of being shortchanged and sent to political oblivion early going by recent political development and realignments," said Savula.

The deputy governor said the external forces are out to weaken the unity of the Luhya community and undermine its political influence.

"We know these people are out to divide us and they are being used by external forces. I want to state that we are in government and we support the nomination of Oparanya as Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary," he said.

"Our region is now united like never before because we are going to rally behind our two elder brothers, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula as well as Oparanya," he added

Savula said Western region will soon hold a meeting to assess development gains and outline more projects to be implemented under the broad-based government.

"The meeting will specifically focus on the development we have gained even though we have been in the opposition. Now that we are in the government with the recent appointment of Oparanya, we are going to push for more development projects from the broad-based government," he said.

"Malala is the one who told our people about the 30 per cent government share. He should use his position to push for the implementation of development projects in the region and stop resorting to propaganda because he knows the budget process takes place in Parliament and not in public meetings," he added.

The deputy governor claimed that Malala and Natembeya are "on hire and serving the interests of the highest bidder" leading them to take positions that may not necessarily align with the interests of the Mulembe people.

"Unfortunately, some leaders are prioritising personal gains over the unity and development of our community," he said.

At the same time, Kenya Private Security Workers Union Secretary General Isaac Andabwa has urged Malala to stop lamenting when he has a good platform in government to raise issues affecting the people of Western.

"Malala is a spokesperson of the ruling party and he has direct access to the President, so he should stop lamenting about development when he has the ear of the President and knows when he can raise them," said Andabwa.

Speaking during Mulembe People's Assembly meeting at Golf Hotel on Monday, Malala demanded accountability from Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.

"We want accountability when we vote to form a government, we must benefit equally from the national cake," he said.

"Let us retreat as Luhyas and suspend our personal aspirations for the sake of the development of our people," he added.

The UDA Secretary General further said it is incorrect to assume a few individuals who received government appointments, including himself, represent the community's interests.

"We want to see real development projects coming to our region the way it happens in other areas," he said.

"We will call a meeting next month in Bungoma where we shall invite Mudavadi, Wetangula, and Oparanya. We shall give them a list of development projects we want as a region and demand progress reports by the end of the 2024/25 financial year," he added.

Malala, who claims to have the ear of President Ruto, could not explain why he has not been able to push for development in the region.

Governor Natembeya said that the Luhya community, despite being the second-largest in Kenya, is treated like strangers when it comes to sharing the national cake.

"As a community, we are number two in population, where is our voice? How come poverty thrives in western Kenya, our children have degrees but no work," he said.

"How are we using our numbers as a community to bargain for development projects? We need a leader who has negotiating power to ensure the region gets its fair share of the national cake," he added.