Wetang’ula asks Musalia to back his bid for top seat

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula has asked Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi to back his presidential campaign.

The Ford Kenya leader, who is also a Cord co-principal, said the alliance will hold primaries to pick its presidential flag bearer.

Mr Wetang’ula indicated that he was not aware of any talks between Cord and Mr Mudavadi.

He said Cord has only three principals — Mr Raila Odinga (ODM), Mr Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and himself. “Any of us who will get the Cord ticket will face Jubilee. All we want is this corrupt Jubilee regime out of power,” Mr Wetang’ula said when he paid Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga a courtesy call on Friday.

Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wetang’ula are the leading presidential contenders in western Kenya. The two have been criss-crossing the region, campaigning, amid calls for unity. Vihiga is Mr Mudavadi’s home turf.

Mr Wetang’ula was responding to reports that Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi were holding talks to forge an alliance ahead of the elections next year.

But the Bungoma senator said: “I am not Mudavadi’s spokesman. He and I meet and talk. If he joins me, he will make me stronger.”

JOIN FORCES

He added: “He (Mr Mudavadi) is not a member of Cord and we will not drag him into the alliance.”

Mr Wetang’ula called on opposition leaders to join forces and remove the ruling Jubilee coalition from power.

Mr Wetang’ula has in the past called on the ANC leader to support his bid for the top seat.

The Ford Kenya leader was last weekend conspicuously missing at a fund-raiser in Khwisero, Kakamega County, that was attended by Mr Mudavadi, trade unionist Francis Atwoli, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba.

Mr Atwoli has been at the centre of renewed calls for Luhya unity.

But on Friday, Mr Wetang’ula said: “We don’t need interlocutors for us to talk to each other.”

He said he is engaged in talks with Mr Mudavadi and United Democratic Party leader Cyrus Jirongo.