Jubilee-friendly MPs are opposed to western unity says Khalwale
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who is aspiring for the Kakamega governor’s seat in 2017, is escorted by women leaders from the county’s 60 wards on August 21, 2016 after a meeting at Jamindas Hotel in Kakamega town to lay strategies for strengthening Ford-Kenya. PHOTO | ISAAC WALE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Dr Khalwale said a crusade by MPs Benjamin Washiali, Emmanuel Wangwe, Ayub Savula, David Were and Bernard Shinali was being driven by selfish political interests.
- The UDF and New Ford-K MPs have been campaigning in Kakamega to popularise Jubilee ahead of a planned visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
- Dr Khalwale said President Kenyatta should state the projects the Jubilee government had initiated in the region since he came to power in 2013.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has accused Luhya MPs campaigning to entrench the Jubilee Party in western Kenya of scheming to scuttle efforts to unite communities in the region to back a single presidential candidate.
Dr Khalwale said a crusade by MPs Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Ayub Savula (Lugari), David Were (Matungu) and Bernard Shinali was being driven by selfish political interests.
The UDF and New Ford-K MPs have been campaigning in Kakamega to popularise Jubilee ahead of a planned visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
But Dr Khalwale said the MPs were being used by Jubilee to frustrate efforts by other Luhya politicians to back one of their own for presidency.
“We have no problem with our colleagues (MPs) joining Jubilee since this is their democratic right. But they should know that we will not sit by and watch as they go around trying to mislead Luhyas to support Jubilee,” Dr Khalwale told supporters at Malinya market in Ikolomani Constituency on Sunday.
The senator told President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to stop wasting time trying to woo communities from western to vote for Jubilee in next year’s polls.
POLITICAL TOOL
“Jubilee Party is a political tool fashioned by two communities to cling to power and marginalise other Kenyans. I want to tell President Kenyatta that, as he plans to tour western he should know that there is no time and space for Jubilee in the region,” said Dr Khalwale.
He said President Kenyatta should state the projects the Jubilee government had initiated in the region since he came to power in 2013.
The senator said Jubilee had made several promises to carry out tarmacking of the Sigalagala-Butere-Sindindi road but failed to implement the project.
He said former President Mwai Kibaki had tarmacked seven kilometres of the road from Butere to Lunza before the project stalled.
“I am telling President Kenyatta not to come to Ikolomani and make empty promises about the tarmacking of roads in our region when nothing is going on,” said Dr Khalwale.
The senator, who has declared he will be challenging Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, said communities in western should remain united and support the opposition to be respected by other communities.
