VIHIGA COUNTY. Three principals out of the four from the now famous National Super Alliance – NASA were urged to remain together and walk on a united front by leaders at the funeral of Vihiga senator George Khaniri’s late mother Josephine Kageha Khaniri.
The three Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi were told that millions of Kenyans were looking at the four as the liberators of this country in the next general elections in August this year.
Among those least expected to pass such message was KANU nominated senator Ziporah Kitonyi a close ally of former president Daniel Arap Moi who said that the four will have themselves to blame if they split and fail to get one of them in State House after the next polls.
“You are four in NASA and yet the seat of the presidency is one hence your unity and agreement to produce one flag bearer will liberate this country but if you split then you will have yourselves to blame for not winning the polls,” said senator Kitonyi.
Kitonyi said that the NASA team has all it takes to clinch the presidential seat, adding that she is really praying that they remain united.
KANU secretary general Nick Salat who said he had come to the funeral as a friend and on behalf of his family, maintained his earlier statement at the Bomas conference that brought together the parties that are now under the NASA umbrella, that he has set his root deep into NASA and supports its course.
“I said this in Bomas and I want to say it here again that on the other side of our KANU party I am deep into the NASA party, but I just want to ask you one thing because my chairman Gideon Moi told me to ask you if you want him to join NASA, are you fine with him joining NASA?” asked Salat amid cheers of approval.
Salat further urged the NASA leaders to remain united and liberate the country pointing out that Kenyans are headed for trouble ahead.
“I want to ask my friends, the leaders of NASA, just as I said when we were at Bomas, to stand united for the advancement of the country. So I also join hands with Kenyans to urge you to select one person to liberate this country,” said Salat.
The bereaved senator George Khaniri, despite earlier on revealing that he didn’t want to delve into political matters in the funeral, also commented on the NASA issue. He said that Kenyans were confident that the four principals were able to come up with one flag bearer to liberate the country.
“We have confidence in you, we have confidence in the four of you and we are confident that if the four of you remain united and come up with one flag bearer then you will liberate this country from the bad leadership that we are experiencing under the Jubilee administration,” said Khaniri.
Kakamega senator Dr. Boni Khalwale told the mourners that the Luhya community had sent two of its sons Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula to the NASA team, hence the community was watching keenly to ensure that none of them jumps ship along the line to shatter the dreams of Kenyans who hope to get a new government under the umbrella.
“Me and senator Khaniri are really guarding the house where the four principals are having flag bearer talks to seize power from Jubilee in the next polls and thus we are all armed with clubs at the doorstep to ensure that if Wetangula tries to come out we hit him on the head to go back and if Mudavadi tries to run out of the house we hit him to go back in the house and ensure that they remain there for the sake of liberating this country,” revealed Khalwale.
Kisumu senator Professor Anyang Nyong’o also noted that he was confident that the four principals shall eventually come up with a name of one of them as their flag bearer but cautioned that other leaders especially MPs and senators should keep off and wait for the white smoke to come out of the negotiating house.
NASA leaders vow to shelve selfish interests and remain united
In response the three principals assured mourners that they will remain united for the sake of liberating Kenyans from the bad leadership of Jubilee leaders and none of them shall pursue selfish or personal interests for the sake of Kenyans.
Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula said that selfishness amongst them is bound to break the team and thus assured that he will back any of the leaders that shall be arrived upon to fly the flag of NASA in the presidential contest against the ruling Jubilee candidate in the August polls.
“I have been saying and I want to say it again here that if Raila gets the ticket I will have got it, if Mudavadi gets the ticket I will be the one who has it and if Kalonzo gets it I will have got it and if Wetangula gets the ticket them I will be very happy and that is why I say that we must remain together,” said the Bungoma senator.
Mudavadi on his side acknowledged that none of them can succeed in their bid to become president if they go solo hence there is need for them to remain united as a team and win the elections.
“It’s true that if I go it alone as Musalia Mudavadi I will not succeed, if Raila goes alone he won’t succeed, if Kalonzo goes for it on his on and even Wetangula none of us shall succeed and therefore it is crucial that we remain united to emerge victorious,” Mudavadi said.
ODM leader Raila Odinga said that the formation of NASA team is the only remedy for Kenyans to be salvaged from the Jubilee government in what he termed is the third and last liberation of Kenya as a country.
“I appeal that we stand together as Kenyans and manage to liberate this country for the third and last time from the bad governance of Jubilee government,” Raila said.
He noted that in the past they had differed with Mudavadi and other leaders whereby each of them went their own way but later on they learned the hard lesson hence promised that their coming together again shall bring victory to Kenyans if they remain together.
NASA to trounce Jubilee in the polls
Raila and Mudavadi exuded confidence that the NASA team shall win the polls with a landslide and thus send message to the Jubilee side led by president Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to brace for a bruising battle and be prepared to be send home in the earliest time possible on the voting day.
“This team that we have formed under NASA cannot lose the elections because it is like a Tsunami that is coming to sweep the Jubilee leaders like it has never done before hence I am telling Uhuru and Ruto that their time to go home is now,” said Raila.
Mudavadi pointed out that it is possible that the Jubilee government shall be sent home by 10am on the voting day in August if the NASA team remains united.
“I am telling you that if we remain united as NASA, then we shall send the Jubilee people home by 10am on that day because by that time they would have already lost the elections to our team,” Mudavadi added.
Luhya community has all it takes to be in State House, says Salat
KANU secretary general Nick Salat further challenged the people from the Luhya community to utilize their numbers and determine the fate of the next occupant of the House on the Hill in Nairobi i.e the State House.
He wondered what devil sweeps across the community during every electioneering period that makes them confused and fail to benefit from their large population to have one of their on leading the country or having a better share of the national cake by playing a major role in determining who wins the presidency.
“I want to tell you the people of Luhya community infront of the church leaders here that the devil that always becomes of you during electioneering period should this time be defeated so that you remain united and utilize your numbers bearing in mind that you have all that takes for you to lead this country but this devil that bedevils you is the problem,” noted Salat.
He added that the Luhya community can get a direct ticket to State House if only they can agree to vote as one united bloc in the general elections.
Calls for voter listing
The funeral that was held at Kapsotik primary school in Hamisi constituency was attended by many other leaders including senators Amos Wako, James Orengo, Governors Moses Akaranga of Vihiga and Wycliffe Oparanya of Kakamega among and MPs Charles Gimose the host, Alfred Agoi, Dr. Paul Otwoma, Yusuf Chanzu, Dr. Wilbur Otichilo among others also used the opportunity to urge the people of the larger Western region to come out in large numbers and register as voters in the remaining few days of the exercise that has been going on for the last one month.
Others present included former national assembly speaker Kenneth Marende, former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa, Philip Kisia, former Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala and other leaders including aspirants vying for various elective seats in Kakamega and Vihiga counties.