The ejection of Water CS Eugene Wamalwa from the Maragoli cultural festival on Tuesday is a confirmation that the region has not yet accepted the outcome of the last presidential election, analysts say.
Political analyst Martin Oloo and Martin Andati agree that the incident simply brought out the feelings by Kenyans about Jubilee administration.
Wamalwa was heckled by a charged crowd in Mbale in the presence of ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi. His vehicle was stoned as Mudavadi escorted him out of the event.
The CS has since blamed Mudavadi, saying he failed to control the crowd.
But political analysts Martin Oloo and Martin Andati say the incident was a clear exhibition of the the feelings of Kenyans about the Jubilee administration.
“People like Wamalwa should be careful when talking to Kenyans. The people are still angry with what happened during elections and their patience should not be misconstrued to mean they have accepted the outcome,” Oloo said.
Andati said the incident is a reminder to those tasked with selling the Jubilee agenda in Western of the work still to be done.
“It’s high time those Luhyas in Jubilee told their masters that all was not well on the ground, instead of pleasing them by promising to pull the region to Jubilee,” Andati said.
He said the incident could also be counterproductive to Mudavadi, who has declared his interest for the presidency in 2022.
"With that ambition, he needs Wamalwa more than the CS needs him. He should therefore find ways of reaching out to all the Luhyas in Jubilee to firm up his presidential bid," Andati said.
Andati however said
it was important that Mudavadi finds ways of reaching out to Luhyas in Jubilee to firm up his 2022 presidential bid.
“What happened could equally be counterproductive to Mudavadi who wants to run for the top seat in 2022 since he needs Wamalwa more that Wamalwa needs him at this point,” he said.
On Thursday, MPs from the region castigated Wamalwa for "gatecrashing" the cultural event and demanded that he apologises to Mudavadi.
Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga Woman Representative), Kagesi Kivai (Vihiga), Justus Murunga (Matungu), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Alfred Agoi (Sabatia), Chris Omulele (Luanda) and Omboko Milemba (Emuhaya) said the CS had a hidden agenda.
They said the CS was keen on stoking imaginary hostilities between Maragolis and Bukusus by causing chaos at the festival.
“His immediate task was to spark a bloodbath. We applaud Mudavadi for his foresight in averting the bloodshed that was planned by Wamalwa," the MPs said in a joint statement.
"He was unwanted by the public, not because he is a Bukusu, but because he symbolises the worst of the Jubilee regime," they added.
They said that Wamalwa was unwanted by the public not because he is a Bukusu but because he symbolises the worst of Jubilee regime – “as a pathological liar”.
“Wamalwa ought to be extremely grateful that Mudavadi secured him the current employment as a minister and not look the gift horse in the mouth.
They said the CS was looking for relevance to lobby for his reappointment to the Cabinet.
"We know he’s now seeking relevance for reappointment. He should not incite animosity in the Luhya community as a bargaining chip to secure reappointment,” they said.