Written by Joseph Amunya Otieno 2012-06-10 16:49:00 Read 1758 Times

The Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and the Lugari Mp Cryrus Jirongo addressing mourners at the burial of the late Dr. livingstone tumbu kibunguchy, the father to the former Lugari Mp Dr. Enoch Kibunguchy. [Photo | Joseph Amunya]

Political differences between the Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo and the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi continued to be revealed as Jirongo vowed never to quit the presidential race in favour of the DPM.

Addressing mourners a Mwamba village in his Lugari constituency during the burial of the late Dr. Livingston Tumbu Kibunguchy who was the father to the former Lugari MP Dr. Enoch Kibunguchy Jirongo defied his earlier promise that he would support the DPM if he declared his interest in the presidency.

Jirongo blamed Mudavadi for being used as governments’ project whose intention was to divide voters and ensure that the presidential seat is won by a candidate from the central region.

“I was among those who were on frontline to advice my brother Mudavadi to quit ODM, at one time I even promised to support the him just to ensure that we had one of our own in the State House, but with the turn of events I can clearly confess before you that my young brother Eugene Wamalwa and I are not ready to support the DPM in his presidential bid, said Jirongo.”

Citing an example of the Democratic Republic of Congo [formerly Zaire] where the former president Mobutu Sesseseko who financed 20 political parties so that he would perpetuate himself in power, the outspoken MP alleged that the state was currently funding six political parties that were aimed at dividing voters a head of the next general elections.

“The government of Mwai Kibaki has created six political parties to perpetuate his community in power just as Mobutu did, “say Jirongo.

Jirongo mention United Democratic Front Party [UDF], Party of Action [POA], The Nation Alliance [TNA] and United Republican Party [URP] as some of the parties that were being funded by the government.

The MP said he was read to sit down with Wamalwa  and Musalia and have a talk if only Musalia stopped being used as a project.

Responding Jirongo’s claims the DPM who was present at the funeral played off Jirongo’s allegation and urged him to watch his words.

Musalia said he was no body’s project and vowed never to turn back.

Do not underrate Mudavadi

Dr. Bonny Khalwale, Musalia Mudavadi and Soita Shitanda

Subsequently, Politicians allied to Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi warned their colleagues against underrating his efforts at capturing the country’s presidency.

Former trade minister Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi castigated politicians allied to various presidential hopefuls for unnecessarily raising eyebrows over Musalia’s growing popularity and stature across the country in recent times instead of stepping up campaigns for their preferred candidates.

“When the Prime Minister roams the country in a chopper nobody questions where he is getting money for such from but when Musalia hires a similar service, we are quick to question the source of his resources. Does it mean that no Luhya is rich enough to mount a serious campaign?” asked Kituyi.

Ikolomani MP Dr. Boni Khalwale claimed that ant-Mudavadi forces outside the Luhya community were closely working with their colleagues in the province with sole intention of creating divisions among the populous Luhya community in order to deny Mudavadi an opportunity to lead this nation after the forthcoming General Election.

Khalwale wondered why the Prime Minister Raila Odinga had suddenly forgotten about his long time wars with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto and shifted his energies to Musalia.

“The Prime Minister behaves as though Uhuru and Ruto have already gone to The Hague,” said Khalwale.

The legislator appealed to other presidential hopefuls from the community including Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, Trade Minster Moses Wetangula and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo to shelve their ambitions and instead support Mudavadi, adding that the DPM was the most suitable candidate to try out the community’s struggle to capture the presidency after the late Masinde Muliro and Kijana Wamalwa.

Addressing at the same function housing, Minister Mr. Soita Shitanda urged presidential aspirants in the province to desist from despising each while advising them to unite and throw their weight behind one of them if the community hopes to produce the next president.

He advised aspirants for various elective posts to carefully study party manifestos before making decisions on which parties to launch their campaigns.

Kibunguchi’s father Mr. Livingstone Tumbu Kibunguchi was laid to rest yesterday amid tension between supporters of Musalia’s United Democratic Front (UDF) and ODM.

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