•The ANC boss said the Azimio team had isolated the Luyha nation at the top decision-making table and instead roped in busybodies.
•Speaking at different stopovers, the leaders hit out at Raila, accusing him of using the Luhya community to achieve his political interests.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
Western leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto's camp, have asked the Luhya nation to reject Azimio candidates.
Led by ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula, they asked the region to vote for Kenya Kwanza aspirants.
Musalia termed some individuals in the Raila Odinga-led Azimio as brokers, keen to reap by misleading the community to vote for the coalition.
The ANC boss said the Azimio team had isolated the Luyha nation at the top decision-making table and instead roped in busybodies.
“In Kenya Kwanza, we are well represented and the alliance stands to develop the whole country, not three regions like our competitors,” Musalia said.
He spoke on Sunday in Muhudi, Vihiga county, where they popularised the Kenya Kwanza alliance as the only team that has the Western Kenya interests at heart.
The leaders hit out at Raila over his promise of reviving Mumias and Nzoia sugar companies.
They accused him of using the sugar industries as campaign projects every election period.
“Since the handshake, why hasn’t he used that position to bring money to the industries? Over Sh200 billion was diverted to Nyanza, where didn’t he bring the money to this region?” Musalia asked.
Wetang’ula urged the community to back Kenya Kwanza to form the next government.
The leaders have been pitching camp in the region, popularising the alliance.
Speaking at different stopovers, they hit out at Raila, accusing him of using the Luhya community to achieve his political interests.
They spoke in Mudete, Mbale and Majengo.
Musalia said the time had come for the alliance leaders to make sacrifices for the sake of the outfit’s victory in August.
“We are being cheated and forced to follow Azimio while the President himself has not managed to have his backyard join the outfit. Why is he keen on having us in Azimio and not his community?” he asked.
Mudavadi criticised President Kenyatta and Raila for taking the community for a ride, especially on matters of development.
“During his Sagana three meeting, the President produced a scorecard for the Central Kenya region. When has he ever had a Kakamega one, two or three to enumerate what he has done for the region? He is now coming to Mulembe nation to direct you to vote Raila, what does he take us for?” he asked.
“Why are we not reading the political dynamics of the day? We want a president who will firmly hold the country together and be in control, a president who will remember what he said.”
Wetang'ula accused the government of being insensitive to the needs of the farmers and the country’s food security.
He said by diverting billions of shillings from the agriculture sector meant for fertiliser purchase to the security docket was a sign the President had lost touch with the reality of how much Kenyans are suffering.
Wetang’ula downplayed claims the deep state will ensure Raila becomes President by all means saying the winning votes are with the people and not the state machinery.
“The chest-thumping that the deep state will make Raila president is a ploy to prepare Kenyans to accept vote-rigging and resign to the fate of vote-rigging. We shall not accept and condemn such moves. We want free and fair elections that will guarantee us the true reflection of what Kenyans want,” the Ford Kenya leader said.
He accused Uhuru of being reluctant to retire, citing it as the reason he was busy campaigning for Raila to become his puppet.
“We want a perfect government and up to date with the problems facing the country. They should stop hiding behind the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris