Senator rallies behind Mudavadi for presidency

A senator has called on the Luhya community to front Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi as its presidential candidate in the 2017 polls.

Vihiga senator George Khaniri, who has been a critic of the ANC leader's style of politics, challenged the Luhya nation to rally behind the Amani leader and make him its spokesperson.

Mr Khaniri said the former Deputy Prime Minister is a senior politician from the region with vast political experience spanning over 20 years, an achievement he believes can enable him lead the nation.

Sentiments by the senator comes amid plans by elders to crown Mr Mudavadi as the region's spokesperson and presidential candidate later this year.

Speaking in North Maragoli in Sabatia, Vihiga County, Mr Khaniri asked other leaders from the region seeking to run for the country’s top seat to shelve their ambitions and instead rally behind Mr Mudavadi.

He noted that Mr Mudavadi was senior to Ford Kenya leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and former Lugari MP Mr Cyrus Jirongo of UDP.

“The other leaders from this region should shelve their ambitions and let him dialogue with ODM leader Raila Odinga so that the two can give us one person for all of us to support during the 2017 elections,” said Mr Khaniri.

Mr Khaniri has, since the last election, been accusing Mr Mudavadi of failing to prove his ability to wrestle with other presidential candidates.

This led to his fallout with Mr Mudavadi’s allies.

However, he said should Mr Mudavadi and Mr Oinga fail to unite, he will make a stab at the presidency in the 2022 elections.

The change of tune by Mr Khaniri now leaves his Kakamega counterpart Boni Khalwale as the only critic of Mr Mudavadi’s quest for the presidency.

Mr Khaniri offered to meet all the Luhya bigwigs saying “I have a responsibility to hammer sense into their heads.”