A section of leaders from the former Western province have opposed the appointment of Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, and COTU boss Francis Atwoli as Luhya spokesmen to lead in development talks and have blamed ODM Raila Odinga for taking advantage of the community. The leaders, MPs Sakwa Bunyasi, Didmus Barasa, John Waluke, Mwambu Mabonga, Chris Wamalwa, Catherine Wambilianga, Dan Wanyama, Tindi Mwale among others, Senators Moses Wetangula, Petronilla Were, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi have raised issue with the attempts to keep the Luhya nation in perpetual disharmony. The cast is made up of leaders who have disassociated with the Kajiado team and resolutions.
Speaking to the press in Karen on Monday, they said they have supported other leaders in the past who have in turn taken advantage of them, pointing ODM leader Raila Odinga, saying he has been the single leading beneficiary of the goodwill of the people of Western. “We have repeatedly allowed him to be the compromise President candidate even when we know there were better candidates,” said Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa. They said they’ve treated him as the brother they thought he was but he has behaved like a guest who in turn upsets his welcome and turns the children against their elders.
The leaders further pointed out that some handpicked henchmen have been set to be spokesmen for the Luhya community, “Together with their principals they have a sinister agenda to wreck havoc in our political parties to disorganise us,” said Wamalwa. They categorically opposed the possibility of Francis Atwoli, Governor Oparanya, and CS Wamalwa being the community spokesmen, “Community issues can’t be canvased outside the Luhya homeland nor can such matters be stage managed by outsiders. Nobody is going to organise us or presume to speak for us.”
They affirmed that Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi are the leaders of the Western people, “Anybody who loves the people of Mulembe must recognise, respect and work with us through the joint leadership of Hon. Mudavadi and Hon. Wetangula.” They added that any leaders from the region who aren’t on the side of the two have signed their political death warrant.