Western leaders to back one aspirant
Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa accused leaders of the G7 alliance of underrating him by questioning his ability to deliver Luhya votes. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, Federal Party of Kenya presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo and Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli said the search for one flag bearer from the region is on and they would back such a leader.
- Mr Wamalwa said he was committed to the quest to unite the community and support one of the five presidential hopefuls from western Kenya in the coming polls.
- He accused leaders of the G7 alliance of underrating him by questioning his ability to deliver Luhya votes.
Three leaders from western Kenya have vowed to shelve their presidential ambitions and rally behind one candidate from the Luhya community.
Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, Federal Party of Kenya presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo and Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli said the search for one flag bearer from the region is on and they would back such a leader.
Speaking in Malava, Navakholo and Lurambi constituencies over the weekend, Mr Wamalwa said he was committed to the quest to unite the community and support one of the five presidential hopefuls from western Kenya in the coming polls.
He accused leaders of the G7 alliance of underrating him by questioning his ability to deliver Luhya votes. (READ: G7 alliance moves to heal rifts in the ranks)
“My colleagues in the G7 think I have nothing significant to bring on the negotiation table because the community appears to be divided on whom to back in the next elections,” said the New Ford Kenya boss.
The Justice minister said both Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto believe he (Mr Wamalwa) was a leader of the Bukusus, one of the Luhya community’s sub-tribes.
He said the community will have a big say in deciding who becomes the next president and the political future of the region only when leaders unite and forge ahead as one team.
Mr Jirongo on the other hand noted that presidential aspirants from the area namely Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Mr Wamalwa, Mr Wakoli, Ford Kenya boss Moses Wetangula and himself were all equal to the task but must seat down and decide on who should fly the region’s flag.
Mr Bifwoli said plans to produce a single presidential candidate must be fast tracked to avoid keeping the electorate guessing. “If you can’t agree on who should be supported, let me be handed the mantle,” he argued.
In Mumias, a crowd that was kept waiting for Mr Wamalwa and his entourage since morning walked home in the evening disappointed after the minister failed to show up to address the people as expected but sent the party secretary general Benjamin Mwema.
