Atwoli, Wetang’ula clash over naming of Luhya spokesman
A combined photo of Cotu boss Francis Atwoli and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula, who have disagreed over the naming of Musalia Mudavadi as the spokesman for the Luhya community. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Wetang’ula is locked in a regional supremacy battle with Mr Mudavadi.
- Mr Atwoli maintained that he had previously sponsored initiatives to unite the community’s political leaders.
Trade unionist Francis Atwoli on Friday hit out at Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula over claims that the Jubilee government sponsored last Saturday’s ceremony to install Musalia Mudavadi as the Luhyia spokesman.
In a statement, Mr Atwoli dismissed Mr Wetang’ula as a politician who was in serious panic after the Amani National Congress leader was installed as the Luhyia political kingpin during the ceremony held at the Bukhungu stadium.
“Such claims are, to say the least, laughable and simply ridiculous and can only be attributed to a person in a serious state of panic,” Said Mr Atwoli, the secretary-general of the Central Organisation of Trade Union.
He maintained that he had funded the entire ceremony using his own resources, contrary to claims by the Bungoma senator that Jubilee was behind the event.
“How would Jubilee benefit from such an event when the very individual (being installed) Musalia Mudavadi is a competitor out to oust Jubilee from power,” he wondered.
DIM VIEW
Mr Wetang’ula has taken a dim view of the ceremony, which saw the Amani National Congress leader crowned the community’s foremost politician in a move that sparked mixed reactions from the region’s political class.
The Ford-Kenya leader, his deputy Boni Khalwale and Jubilee-allied politicians skipped the otherwise well-attended event graced by Kakamega and Vihiga governors Wycliffe Oparanya and Moses Akaranga, respectively, as well as several MPs from the region.
Mr Wetang’ula is locked in a regional supremacy battle with Mr Mudavadi, who has caught national attention by agitating for the formation of a national super alliance as the surest way of defeating the Jubilee government in this year’s election.
In the statement, Mr Atwoli maintained that he had previously sponsored initiatives to unite the community’s political leaders.
“For the records, my good friend Wetang’ula can attest to the fact that on Sunday 14th October, 2012, I personally airlifted him together with Hons. Musalia Mudavadi and Cyrus Jirongo to the Mara Serena for Luhya unity talks using my own funds,” he stated.
