Luhyas seek unity and one presidential candidate

Senior Luhya politicians on Saturday started a campaign to unite the community with trade unionist Francis Atwoli hosting a key meeting to rally the region to vote for one presidential candidate.

Mr Atwoli brought together Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), John Bunyasi (Nambale), Andola Andai (Khwisero), Ayub Savula (Lugari) and John Walukhe (Sirisia).

Mr Atwoli, who is spearheading the campaign, said the Luhya should not give up hope since there was light at the end of the tunnel.

“We shall not waver at any stage in this campaign despite the insults from those who deride the Luhya community and are only interested in their votes during election time,” said Mr Atwoli.

The Cotu boss spoke in Khwisero constituency during a drive to raise money to buy a bus for Khwisero Girl’s Secondary in Kakamega County.

The unionist has been holding meetings in efforts to unite Luhya presidential hopefuls to come up with a single candidate to battle it out with others in the 2017 polls.

Last month, Mr Atwoli warned the Luhya politicians against defecting to the newly-launched Jubilee Party after a section of western Kenya leaders indicated that they would be ditching the Raila Odinga led Opposition alliance, Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord).

They have since risen against party leader Raila Odinga, who spent five days in the region in June on a damage control tour that had mixed results.

The unity calls comes in the backdrop of disquiet by a section of leaders led by Mr Namwamba who resigned from his position as the Orange Democratic Movement secretary-general, citing frustrations.

Mr Wetang’ula has also been quoted several times saying he is the best candidate to remove the Jubilee government from power.

WORKING CLOSELY

Mr Atwoli said he was working closely with politicians in Cord, Amani National Congress and Jubilee from western to fulfill his dream of uniting members of the Luhya community.

“We are ready to engage in consultations with those in Cord and Jubilee as long as such consultations serve the interest of the Luhya community.

“Tribalism and corruption have become the order of the day due to poor leadership but I’m optimistic that in my life time, this country will get a president that will unite Kenyans and deal firmly with corruption,” said Mr Atwoli.

Mr Mudavadi, who was the chief guest, said he was steadfast in his quest for the presidency in 2017.

“Let’s make no mistake about this. I’m the ANC presidential candidate and my aim is to remove Jubilee from power in next year’s elections,” said Mr Mudavadi.

Mr Atwoli said he would intervene as an elder and name the suitable candidate to contest the presidency if the politicians failed to agree on a single choice.

“I have engaged a team from the University of Nairobi which is carrying out a survey in the region to determine who among our politicians is the most popular. I will name the candidate next year after they have completed their work,” said Mr Atwoli.

Mr Mudavadi said Kenyans should vote out the Jubilee government in next year’s elections for eroding national cohesion and alienating Kenyans from the government.

“I propose that Cabinet Secretaries should be answerable to Parliament for the decisions they make so as to streamline government operations,” said Mr Mudavadi.

The ANC leader said Kenyans need to push for amendments to the Constitution to ensure no communities were marginalised.

He said those dismissing his presidential bid were not genuine saying former President Mwai Kibaki and President Uhuru Kenyatta had contested the seat more than once and lost but did not give up.