Political bigwigs are battling for the Luhya vote ahead of next year’s polls.
There are 1,283,353 registered voters in the four counties in Western, according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission figures released ahead of the March 4, 2013 election. The counties are Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and Bungoma.
The recent launch of the presidential bid by Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and his subsequent tour of Western has sent Cord leader Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi of Amani back to the drawing board.
Though Raila hails from Nyanza, unlike Wetang’ula and Mudavadi who come from Western, he still commands a huge chunk of the votes. Raila has two governors in Western; Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Sospeter Ojamoong (Busia), while Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have no governors.
Raila’s main point men from Western include ODM deputy party leader Oparanya and secretary general Ababu Namwamba.
The Star has learnt ODM is planning a series of meetings and rallies in Western on Raila’s return from France to hold onto its grip on the region. Mudavadi is leaving nothing to chance, and has planned a series of meetings beginning tomorrow.
“We are just about to roll out the heavy artillery,” Namwamba said. On Monday, Oparanya told Wetang’ula to join ODM if he wants to ascend to national leadership. He said ODM is the most popular party in Western.
“…I therefore advise anyone from this region who wants to ascend to national leadership, including Wetang’ula, to join ODM instead of fighting it,” Oparanya said. Mudavadi is set to tour Kakamega and raid Wetang’ula’s home turf of Bungoma tomorrow, his spokesperson Kibisu Kabatesi said. In a statement yesterday, Kabatesi said: “Amani National Congress leader Mudavadi will on Saturday traverse the Western region in a new impetus to galvanise the Western voting bloc.”
Mudavadi will attend events in Kakamega and Bungoma counties, he said. “Although Mudavadi plans to attend the Friends Church National Conference and his unce’s funeral in Tongaren subcounty, Bungoma, the visit is seen as an assertion of recent moves to concentrate on the region.” Ishmael Shivere will be buried n Buyofu village, Tabani subocation.
The ANC leader has since the beginning of the year been in Vihiga, Kakamega and Trans Nzioa counties, holding town hall meetings with opinion leaders and ANC stalwarts. He was in Malava last week for a fundraiser and will on Saturday be at Booker Academy in Mumias for the Tri-Annual Conference that brings together 1,500 participants. The ANC campaign is targeting women and youth as a critical mass, not only in Western but across the country.
The party sponsored Easter sports for youth in Kayole, Nairobi, followed by Mudavadi speaking to more than 5,000 youth in Kitui.He was scheduled to be a guest speaker at a youth forum at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology next week, before the institution was closed indefinitely. Amani national vice chairman Abdi Mohamed said the party is “prepared and determined” to remove the Kenyatta administration from power.