Sugar, Luhya unity politics dominate Kijana Wamalwa memorial

Cord co-principal Raila Odinga was on the receiving end on Sunday as leaders launched vicious attack against him during a memorial ceremony in honour of former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa.

Politics around the controversial sugar deal between Kenya and Uganda took centre stage as speakers lashed out at Mr Odinga for opposing it.

The event, held at the late Mr Wamalwa’s Kitale home in Trans Nzoia county, was skipped by top Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leaders.

The Luhya unity call was again made as leaders regional leaders urged each other to form a force that will give the Luhya community a say in national politics.

Former deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi called for sobriety on the Sugar debate saying the focus should be centred on balancing between farmers’ interests and those of the East African trade protocol.

“We must strengthen the rules of origin to ensure that the goods being imported from member states actually originate from there to avoid cartels from importing sugar from other countries,” said Mr Mudavadi.

UNCTAD secretary Dr Mukhisa Kituyi accused leaders of politicising the sugar issue instead of focusing on how to ensure there is a reduction on production costs in the country to have a level playing ground with other countries.

“We must know that Uganda has a right through the East African treaty to freely sell her products in Kenya. Our focus should be on how to deal with our high cost of production,” said Mr Kituyi.

CORD HYPOCRITICAL

Water and Irrigation cabinet secretary Mr Eugene Wamalwa accused Opposition leaders of being hypocritical about the sugar issue.

He said the Cord leaders are aware that Uganda has been selling her Sugar to Kenya all along.

“We used to import sugar from Uganda to curb our deficit during the Grand coalition era where Cord principals were in government. What has changed now?” he asked.

He said the government will not dishonour the treaty signed between the country and Uganda since it is committed to enhancing the integration of the East African Community.

Mumias East MP Mr Ben Washiali and his Saboti counterpart David Wafula called on Mr Odinga to pay a debt that a company associated with his family allegedly owes Mumias Sugar Company to bring it back on its feet.

“Raila is pretending to defend farmers yet a debt he owes Mumias Sugar Company is part of the reason the company in turn owes farmers in the region,” said Mr Wafula.

NAME SUGAR CARTELS

However Sirisia MP John Waluke said leaders who are furthering the Sugar importation deal are being insincere by overlooking the issue of cartels who stand to benefit.

“I will soon name individuals who are behind sugar cartels who intend to bring in sugar from Brazil and brand it as Ugandan sugar. Let us not just defend this deal,” said M. Waluke.

Some leaders also called on locals in the western region to embrace plans to form a united political front instead of supporting Mr Odinga.

“We want to focus on how we can strengthen our house instead of playing second fiddle to the former Prime Minister. We have the numbers to make it,” said Lugari MP Mr Ayub Savula.

UNIQUE CEREMONY

This year’s ceremony has been unique as it was preceded by a Bukusu cultural ritual of bringing back home the soul of the late Mr Wamalwa from London, where he died, by his family.

A team led by his brother, the Water CS Mr Wamalwa, travelled to London on August 14 to “fetch” the spirit from the Royal Free Hospital where he died. They “brought the spirit home” on Wednesday night.

According to the Bukusu rites, this ritual is a must for anybody who died far from his homestead or else the spirit will haunt the family and relatives forever.

“This rite must be conducted by the family of the deceased to appease the spirit of the dead or else they will know no peace,” said Trans Nzoia Bukusu council of elders chairman Peter Masinde.

The rite involves picking an item mostly a stone from a location where the person died which is taken to his homestead.