Bukusu elders ask Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to back Raila

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula chats with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi during Wiper Party National Delegates Congress. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Bukusu Council of Elders has endorsed ODM leader Raila Odinga to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Luhya Elders Forum chairman Patrick Wangamati on Tuesday met Raila in Nairobi and declared their support.

Also at the meeting were Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and Amani National Congress (ANC) Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi.

“The Bukusu Council of Elders met our party leader today and they have endorsed him. They have made an assurance that they will go down there to popularise his candidature,” said Mr Wandayi.

The elders said they would engage with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula to have them back Raila.

Wangamati is a former Ford Kenya Nominated MP and father of Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati.

Bukusu is the most dominant sub-tribe of the Abaluhya community.

Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka did not attend Friday’s Azimio la Umoja conference when Raila declared he would offer his candidature.

On Monday, Mudavadi insisted he would be on the ballot. The ANC leader said the voter would make an independent decision without being influenced by any form of endorsement.

“My message is very simple; why can’t we take a leaf from (Kenneth) Matiba’s statement that let the people decide?”

“The greatest endorsement is the endorsement by the Kenyan voter because it is the vote that will be counted. These others are mere opinions.”

There is a perception that Raila enjoys the backing of the State machinery.

But Mudavadi said the public was likely to revolt against a candidate being pushed down their throat by the State.