Kakamega governor hopeful Cyrus Jirongo has asked Luhyas to rally behind Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga, saying he is on the verge of winning the presidency.
Jirongo was addressing a campaign rally at Lwandeti market in Lugari constituency on Saturday
He said the community has stood with Raila over the years and that it would make no sense to abandon him at the eleventh hour.
“You cannot push someone up to the door and abandon him when he is just about to enter the house,” Jirongo said.
Raila has enjoyed the support of Western voters but is facing a serious onslaught from Deputy President William Ruto who is keen to win the crucial bloc.
Jirongo said it is time for the leadership to move to other communities and hailed President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to back Raila.
He said ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi disappointed him when he failed to take a stab at the presidency while at One Kenya Alliance.
Jirongo said he decided to run for governor seat to ensure the nation’s leadership comes to the Luhya community.
He said that inherent division among Luhya leaders is the major obstacle to her ascension to power.
The former Lugari MP said the tribal politics that often characterise elections in Kenya are triggered by the unequal distribution of the national cake.
“If every community gets its rightful share of the national cake, no one will bother about the tribe the president hails from,” he said.
At the same time, he hailed the Raila-Karua ticket saying it stands for credible leadership.
He asked Raila to disassociate himself from corrupt individuals in Luhyaland who will taint his credibility.
“I like Karua because she is a woman who will fight corruption but people will begin asking questions if Raila continues to work with the corrupt leaders in Western," he said.
“If you want to be closer to Raila, don’t abuse your fellow Luhyas regardless of their political persuasions. Don’t be the one being used to abuse your brothers to please outsiders."
Jirongo is facing five other candidates in the race to succeed Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
They include Cleophas Malala (ANC), Fernandez Barasa (ODM), Samuel Omukoko (MDP), Michael Osundwa (Independent) and Austin Optiso (Independent).
"Raila should also remember that he could not become prime minister in the grand coalition government without the support of the Luhya community," he said.
“What we want is for Raila to come and acknowledge the support we’ve given him as Luhyas. It is Luhya votes that have been carrying him all along."
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
