Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga eye western Kenya support
From left, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Meru’s Peter Munya and Isaac Ruto of Bomet address residents of Muthara in Tigania East Sub County, Meru County on September 5, 2014. They called on the residents to support the call for referendum dubbed “Pesa Mashinani”. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL |
What you need to know:
- President Kenyatta will be in Migori to launch an anti-malaria campaign as Cord leader tours Busia County.
- The President’s tour has since taken a political dimension.
The fierce political rivalry between Cord leader Raila Odinga and President Kenyatta is set to play out this weekend when the two leaders visit western Kenya on different missions.
Mr Odinga will lead the Cord brigade on a tour of Busia County on Saturday to launch the signature collection drive in Budalang’i Constituency.
He will then proceed to Matayos Constituency to attend the homecoming party of MP Godfrey Odanga.
Mr Kenyatta, on the other hand, is expected to tour Migori County on Monday to launch an anti-malaria drive.
But the President’s tour has since taken a political dimension after he met several leaders from the county who are perceived to be opposed to Mr Odinga.
The meeting was held at State House, Nairobi on Thursday.
DISTRIBUTION OF NETS
“The President met a group of leaders from Migori to discuss Monday’s tour. He will launch the distribution of nets as part of an anti-malaria campaign since the county is one of the most affected,” State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said.
The State House meeting, coordinated by Migori Governor Okoth Obado and Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, is said to have discussed the finer details of Mr Kenyatta’s tour.
Mr Otieno has publicly denounced his membership of ODM and declared he would soon unveil a new political party to “liberate” the Luo community from Mr Odinga’s grip.
Mr Obado is also perceived to be at loggerheads with Mr Odinga.
They were accompanied by Senator Wilfred Machage and MPs Omondi Anyanga (Nyatike), John Kobado (Uriri), Robi Mathias (Kuria West) and Shadrack Manga (Kuria East).
NOT INVITED
But it is the absence of Suna East MP Junet Mohammed at the meeting that gave it a political spin.
Mr Mohammed, one of Mr Odinga’s closest allies, was not invited to the State House meeting.
“They did not inform me about it probably because of my political position. But even if they did, I would have done a lot of soul-searching on whether to attend or not,” he later said.
A statement from the ODM Secretariat stated that Mr Odinga would be hosted in Budalang’i by area MP Ababu Namwamba in the first leg of the tour.
Several leaders allied to the coalition, who are expected to attend, include Cord co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula.
Choice of Budalang’i as Mr Odinga’s first stop is significant given the uneasy relationship between his close allies and area MP Ababu Namwamba.
Besides popularising the referendum campaign, Mr Odinga’s tour will give him a chance to mend fences with Mr Namwamba and consolidate his support in a county that has consistently backed him.
