The death of former cabinet minister Soita Shitanda has dealt Jubilee a major blow in Western.
Shitanda died on Tuesday while under treatment at Nairobi Hospital after a long illness. He was until his death the Agricultural Development Corporation chairman. He served as Malava MP for 15 years and was expected to play a major role in Jubilee campaigns in Kakamega county and Western in general in 2017.
“It is obvious his death will affect us as Jubilee because of the vast political experience we hoped to tap,” UDF leader Ben Washiali said yesterday. “Shitanda was one of Jubilee’s pointmen in Western and it will take time to replace him.” Jubilee, which performed dismally in Western in the last general election, is struggling to gain a foothold.
The recent announcement of a Sh6 billion plan to revive Pan Paper Mills in Webuye and disbursement of Sh2 billion to steady operations at the ailing Mumias Sugar Company are seen as part of Jubilee’s strategy to endear itself to a region perceived to be a Cord stronghold.
Kakamega UDF secretary Raphael Welimo said Jubilee has lost a man who could not be easily swayed and who stood by his word. “His death will no doubt cause major political alignments in Western, because he wanted Luhyas to be in government,” Welimo said. Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe described Shitanda as “a go-getter” who stopped at nothing to get what he wanted as long as it was in the interest of the people.
He said Shitanda was expected to give the political direction in Western ahead of the next general election. Former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito said Shitanda’s death will strengthen Jubilee in Kakamega as leaders seek to fulfill his dream of delivering the community to government. Shitanda has been instrumental in fighting for the interest of sugarcane farmers in Western. He is accredited with the fight to ensure establishment of the Butali Sugar Mills.
Shitanda played a key role in campaigning for ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi’s presidential bid on a UDF ticket in 2013 against a strong tide by Cord.