A section of elected leaders from Kakamega County are now demanding CORD Co-Principal Raila Odinga to publicly apologize for allegedly abusing members of the Luhya community during his recent tour of the region.
Addressing residents of Matete in Lugari Sub County on Friday, the leaders who included legislators Ayub Savula (Lugari), Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Malulu Injendi (Malava) and David Were of Matungu constituency, expressed their disappointment with Raila’s utterances.
Savula said Odinga should respect members of the Luhya community, noting that the region threw overwhelming support towards his presidential bids in the last two general elections.
“It is shocking Raila Odinga can make such remarks against the Luhya community yet he garnered more than 700,000 votes from western province in the last presidential elections,” said Savula.
He cautioned that politicians from western region will no longer allow external forces to exploit its numerical strength for political gains while its leaders and the electorate remain in the cold.
The Lugari MP hinted at an elaborate scheme in plan aimed at ensuring the region will be part of government after next year’s general elections.
His sentiments were echoed by the Matungu MP David Were, who emphasized on the group’s unwavering support for the current government.
Were scoffed at Odinga’s alleged abusive statement and vowed to defend and retain his Matungu parliamentary seat under Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).
On his part, Wangwe claimed that the Luhya community did not benefit from the grand coalition government which was headed by former president Mwai Kibaki and Odinga as the prime minister.
“The community can now boast of benefits achieved under Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership,” claimed the Navakholo MP.
Washiali exonerated himself from Odinga’s claims, where the former premier had accused the legislator of being part corruption cartels that contributed to the collapse of Mumias Sugar Company (MSC).
“Kenyans know I have been at the forefront of efforts to resuscitate the sugar company that almost went to its knees,” said Washiali.
According to the leaders, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had lost its grip of the western region.
Washiali added that it was time for the ODM leader to properly read the signs and change tact.
Malava MP, Injendi, used the occasion to publicly and officially announce his decision to ditch ODM.
Injendi cited recent resignations of ODM’s Secretary General Ababu Namwamba and National vice Chair Paul Otuoma as part of the reasons why he made his decision.
It is alleged the former prime minister referred to Namwamba’s “Mulembe Consciousness” as foolish and an exercise aimed at further dividing the populous community
