Mudavadi and Jirongo fight for turf

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi (right) addresses journalists at Pontoon Restaurant in Nyali, Mombasa, on October 12, 2015. Mr Mudavadi told Nation at his Mululu home that he will use the forum to express his solidarity with teachers, who have not been paid their September salaries. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mudavadi’s rival and UDP leader Cyrus Jirongo will be rasing funds for boda boda riders in Mbale, only few kilometres away.
  • Mr Mudavadi told Nation at his Mululu home that he will use the forum to express his solidarity with teachers, who have not been paid their September salaries.

Two political rivals from the western Kenya will Saturday address separate meetings in Vihiga County as they seek to sell their political outfits to voters ahead of the 2017 General Election.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi will address a teachers’ conference at Friends College Kaimosi organised by Kuppet.

More than 2,000 teachers are expected to attend.

Mr Mudavadi’s rival and UDP leader Cyrus Jirongo will be raising funds for boda boda riders in Mbale, only few kilometres away.

The battle for supremacy has intensified fight between the two politicians in the last five months.

While Mr Mudavadi has been criss-crossing Kakamega and Vihiga rallying support for his ANC, Mr Jirongo has also been marketing UDP as the party of the Luhya community.

He has been going round the region raising funds for churches and women’s groups.

Former Parliament Speaker Kenneth Marende is a member of Mr Jirongo’s party.

Mr Mudavadi told Nation at his Mululu home that he will use the forum to express his solidarity with teachers, who have not been paid their September salaries.

“Teachers build foundations of nations by nurturing their human resource. In their hands, the destiny of our country is moulded,” he said.

“Unfortunately symbiotic working relationships among teachers, their employer and the government is lacking.”

On Thursday, the ANC leader accompanied British High Commissioner Christian Turner on a visit to the region as he seeks financial support for the establishment of Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Sabatia.

Together with Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi, Mr Mudavadi and Mr Turner visited two health centres, which the envoy pledged to support.

The much publicised visit came days after media reports indicated that Mr Mudavadi had secured government financial support to complete the stalled Mudete market in Sabatia for a Sh200 million.

Mr Mudavadi will then go to Eldoret, the political base of URP leader and Deputy President William Ruto, for a two-day political visit.