Key leaders in western region back Wetang’ula in Senate race

Former speaker and a number of politicians who supported Amani coalition in last General Election have thrown their weight behind him.

Cord leader Moses Wetang’ula has received support from a section of key politicians in Western Kenya in his bid to recapture the Bungoma Senate seat in the December 19 by-election.

Mr Wetang’ula is expected to face off against former Webuye MP Musikari Kombo who successfully filed the petition challenging the election.

Former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo have announced they will back Mr Wetang’ula. Mr Marende said there was a need for all politicians from the Luhya community to be united to champion the rights of the community.

“Politics is a resource, and we must harness it to ensure we achieve meaningful development. We should rise beyond partisan politics to give our people good representation,” he said, adding “Mr Wetang’ula represents the community at a senior level in national politics”.

The former speaker vowed to camp in Bungoma and campaign for the re-election of Mr Wetang’ula. He vowed to ensure that sycophants being used by “outside forces” do not clinch the seat.

The Cord leader, however, faces uncertainty in his re-election bid after Bungoma High Court Judge Francis Gikonyo asked the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko to investigate voter bribery allegations against Mr Wetang’ula.

But Mr Marende said no law can be applied to bar Mr Wetang’ula from defending his seat.

“The President and his deputy were cleared to contest despite facing crimes against humanity charges. What offence has Wetang’ula committed to be stopped from vying? Whoever is trying that will not succeed,” said Mr Marende.

Several politicians who supported the Amani coalition in the last General Election led by former Cabinet minister Soita Shitanda, former Shinyalu MP Kizito Mugali, former Webuye MP Joash Wamang’oli and Bumula MP Jack Wamboka have also thrown their weight behind Mr Wetang’ula.

Former Kanduyi MP Alfred Khangati termed claims that he will vie for the Senate seat as propaganda aimed at causing divisions.

Mr Kombo has received support from Amani coalition presidential candidate in the last election Musalia Mudavadi and New Ford Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa.

Mr Majimbo Kalasinga, who vied for the Kabuchai parliamentary seat and lost, says he will contest the seat on a TNA party ticket.
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However, a section of New Ford Kenya officials in the county have distanced themselves from Mr Kombo. They have instead endorsed the candidature of party national organising secretary Dr Juma Mukhwana for the Senate seat.

New Ford Kenya Bungoma County chairman Martin Nyongesa said the party should hold free and transparent nominations but added that a majority of the party supporters favour Dr Mukhwana.

Mr Nyongesa, who spoke after chairing a meeting of county officials at the party offices in Bungoma, said any attempt by the national office to give Mr Kombo a direct ticket will be met with a lot of resistance.

“Nobody should be given a ticket through the back door. We want the party members to decide who will fly the party’s flag,” he said.

The county chairman said branch officials will support Dr Mukhwana for the Senate seat.

“Our governor, Mr Ken Lusaka, who was elected on a New Ford Kenya party ticket, and our Women’s Representative, Dr Reginalda Wanyonyi, are all from the northern part of the county. We want our supporters from the south to also have representation at the county level,” he said.

Dr Mukhwana told the Sunday Nation that despite Mr Kombo having filed the election petition, he should not be given a direct ticket.“I have offered my candidature to bring change to elections in Bungoma County. I am a new leader who will bring freshness,” said Dr Mukhwana, who was once a close ally of Mr Wamalwa.

But Bumula MP Boniface Otsiula has dismissed claims that there are wrangles in New Ford Kenya over who should fly the party’s flag in the Senate election, insisting that the party is united and will rally behind a single candidate. He laughed at the county party officials’ endorsement of Dr Mukhwana, who he said had defected from the party.

In the Wetang’ula camp, former Lugari MP Jirongo echoed Mr Marende’s sentiments, saying the Luhya community has hit its lowest point politically and called for unity across the political divide.

He also accused the Jubilee government of using divide-and-rule tactics and claimed Mr Wetang’ula’s political opponents were being used by outsiders.
“We have no one in government to turn to when our community is faced with challenges like the recent insecurity,” he said.

Mr Wetang’ula said anyone from the Luhya community who is not part of the unity calls has no place in the changing political landscape. He maintained that his name will be on the ballot paper and expressed confidence that he would win by a landslide.

“No outsider will elect our leaders for us. Those sycophants from our community should be told that it is the people who will decide who the senator for Bungoma will be,” he said.

Seven petitions were filed at the High Court in Bungoma following the declaration of results of the March 4 elections. Only Mr Wetang’ula’s election was nullified. Mr Majimbo Kalasinga, who unsuccessfully vied for the Kabuchai parliamentary seat, hopes to contest on a TNA ticket.

But for now, the contest is largely seen to be in the “Ford family” — Ford Kenya and New Ford Kenya — which shared the spoils on March 4.