KAKAMEGA COUNTY. Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi was named the Luhya community spokesperson in a ceremony that was boycotted by other senior politicians from the populous community.
Mudavadi’s elevation to the new post was out of an initiative by Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli who said he contracted researchers from Nairobi University’s political Science docket to do a survey and establish the most popular politician from the Luhya community to be made its spokesperson.
The ceremony that was held at Kakamega’s Bukhungu Stadium was attended by a handful of members of the national assembly from Mudavadi’s Vihiga County and Kakamega County with majority of the legislators skipping the ceremony that was seen as an Atwoli-Mudavadi function.
Other senior politicians especially from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia County who also have a lot of influence in the community did not show up at the ceremony.
In his acceptance speech after being announced as the most popular leader in the Luhya Nation, Mudavadi vowed to unite the community that has been disgruntled for many year hence not benefitting from its numerical numbers when it comes to political leadership at the national level.
“I want to say that I accept this honour with humility and above all I accept to be your servant and I urge everybody to join me in this journey of uniting our community” said Mudavadi who was also installed as a Luhya elder.
He further noted that the move was in honour of the fallen heroes who always championed for the unity of the community including Nabongo Mumia, Paul Agoi, Moses Mudavadi, Masinde Muliro, Sudi Namachanja, Kijana Wamalwa among others whom he said their spirits can now rest in peace as they watch the people of the Luhya Nation get united.
“I invoke the spirits of the wariors of Lidembe Liberation War, the struggles of Nabongo Mumia, Paulo Agoi, Martin Shikuku, Musa Amalemba, Kijana Wamalwa, Elija Masinde Wa Nameme, Wafula Wabuge, Canon Awori, Sudi Namachanja, Masinde Muliro and Moses Mudavadi among others because they are many and I am sure their spirits can now rest in peace as they watch over the people of Mulembe getting united,” added Mudavadi.
In the research report that was presented in a sealed brief case by the researchers, it unveiled names of three leaders from the community whereby Musalia Mudavadi emerged with 39% followed by Ford Kenya leader who is also Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula and Kakamega governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanjya who tied up at 30% each.
The briefcase that Atwoli said nobody had accessed was sealed and had been kept in safe custody at the KCB bank was opened before the crowd before the report on the leaders was unveiled.
Mudavadi has now promised to reach out to fellow senior leaders from the community including Wetangula, Eugene wamalwa, Cyrus Jirongo, former speaker Kenneth Marende, Ababu Namwamba among others to join him and forge ahead jointly in uniting the community.
At the same time the ANC leader asked for permission from the community to seek for support from other leaders from other regions including CORD leader Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka among others as the crowded cheered and shouted other names to be included ranging from Gideon Moi of KANU, Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho and his Bomet counterpart Isaac Ruto that they demanded should be on the list of those he should reach out for support especially in his presidential bid.
Earlier on Atwoli had dismissed other leaders who boycotted the ceremony arguing that the host did not consult them and had nobody’s authority to name the community’s spokesperson saying that the research was done scientifically and should not be doubted by anybody but have the initiative supported.
He showed evidence at all levels when he hosted some of the leaders for the talks in the same course of uniting the community and having one spokesperson who can bargain and give direction without dispute from other leaders in the same community.
Some of the leaders who were present lauded Atwoli for having commited himself towards achieving a goal that many Luhya leaders had failed along the way to get a spokesperson and having the community united.
Leaders to support initiative and new spokesperson
Leaders who were there vowed to support the initiative and urged the crowd to reject all leaders who skipped the ceremony to face the wrath of the voters at the ballot box in this year’s elections in August.
Mahiakalo member of county assembly Cleophas Malala said that it was a big challenge and a bad signal to realize that the people of Mulembe Nation had no spokesperson as compared to other communities such as Kikuyu whom he said their defacto leader is President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kalenjins have deputy President William Ruto, Luos have Raila Odinga as their spokesperson and Kambas have Kalonzo Musyoka as their leader.
He therefore said that Atwoli’s initiative to have a spokesperson who can unify the community should be supported by other leaders from the community.
The ceremony that was led by former labour minister Philip Masinde who is the chair of elders council of people living in the former Western Province was not attended by any leader from the Bukusu sub-tribe that is among the most populous and influential among the Luhya Nation among other leaders.
Mps Benjamin Washiali from Mumias East, Emmanuel Wangwe of Navakholo, Malulu Injendi of Malava among others who lean on the Jubilee side held a public rally at Shianda market in what was seen as a way to dismantle Atwoli;s function.
Among the leaders present was Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and MPs who attended the function at Bukhungu stadium included Sakwa Bunyasi of Nambale, Alfred Agoi of Sabatia, Charles Gimose of Hamisi though he had a rough time addressing the crowd that demanded that he denounces the Jubilee coalition which he was said to be aligned with and Ayub Savula of Lugari.
Others were Yusuf Chanzu of Vihiga, Raphael Otalo of Lurambi who was the host among other leaders including KUPPET national secretary general Omboko Milemba.
In a rare show of unity governor Oparanya and Mudavadi arrived at the ceremony in style on top of one vehicle in a convoy of vehicles and a huge crowd that walked along the convoy to the ceremony.
Oparanya later in his speech said that he will support Mudavadi in his new role as the spokesperson of the Luhya community and his bid to vie for the presidency in the National Super alliance famously known as NASA.