Luhya unity agenda 'misleading' and misused

Senator Mosses Wetang'ula and his Kakamega counterpart Boni Khalwale during burial service of the late politician Awuor wa Kataka in Malava, Kakamega county on June 25th, 2016. The two revisited IEBC debate saying the talks between government and opposition will focus squarely on sealing all loopholes in the electoral process including vote tallying which must be transparent right from polling stations. Wetang'ula said provisional results level provides a platform for vote manipulation and therefore there is no need for that. [Photo:Chrispen Sechere/Standard].

Senators Moses Wetang'ula and Boni Khalwale have termed as escapism calls by Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and Water Services Trust Fund chair Musikari Kombo for Luhya unity.

The CORD co-principal said the Luhya unity narrative was often coined whenever Jubilee leaders were cornered to tell the people the benefit of backing the alliance.

Wetang'ula and Khalwale said the Luhyas were largely united and it was only leaders who were with or without the people.

"Whenever you hear someone telling you that Luhyas should unite, then know that they are running away from something. Kombo and Wamalwa are using sweet funeral language to confuse people. The truth is that Luhya politics is between those vouching for CORD and Jubilee in Luhya land," said Khalwale.

They spoke during the burial of former University of Nairobi student leader, Nation and Weekly Review writer Awori wa Kataka.

Wamalwa had said Luhyas had so many presidential aspirants who could fail at the ballot if they maintained different directions rather than working as a team.

"Musalia Mudavadi, Cyrus Jirongo and Wetang'ula want to be president and on different parties. They will fail in their different parties if we don't put the Luhya house in order," he said.

Kombo remarked that the anti-government forces in Western were arrogant and abusive.

"Let's be humble as Luhya leaders. If you call another a sweeper, or someone's maid, that he has been bought because he is in government, that marks the end of the unity," he said.

Kombo was referring to sentiments made by Jirongo in a separate function where he said MPs allied to Jubilee were treated to government's weekly handouts to split the Luhya bloc.

"They were being given Sh150,000, it reduced to Sh100,000 and now I hear it is Sh50,000 a week. You cannot be a toilet sweeper in government, yet purport to convince us (Luhyas) to join you there," Jirongo said.

Wetang'ula and Khalwale urged Luhya leaders to stick with CORD, adding there is nothing good in Jubilee.

"Whenever top Jubilee leadership visits they are full of promises. President Uhuru recently promised to recarpet the Webuye-Kakamega road. It has remained a promise," said Wetang'ula.