Let's end the bad blood between us, Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has told Senator Moses Wetang’ula.
“We all come from Kabuchai and there is no need for these endless fights yet we are not going for the same seat,” he said.
Wangamati spoke during Madaraka Day celebrations at Nalondo stadium in Kabuchai.
Wetang’ula, who was Wangamati's political godfather, parted ways with him when the governor led a group of other politicians in an attempted coup in the Ford Kenya party in 2020.
Wangamati was later quoted in the media saying he was the chief architect of the coup and accused Wetang'ula of bad leadership.
When the coup failed, Wangamati and his allies ditched Ford-K and joined DAP-K, a party associated with Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
Wetang’ula has promised to teach Wangamati a political lesson.
He has teamed up with Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, who is seeking to recapture the governor seat he lost to Wangamati in 2017.
Opinion polls by different pollsters have put Lusaka in the lead.
On Wednesday, Wangamati said the bad blood with Wetang’ula has hampered his delivery as governor.
He said members of Bungoma county assembly allied to Wetang’ula had given him sleepless nights in the past few years.
Wangamati urged Kabuchai residents to reelect him.
“Just back my reelection and you will see what I will do for you. This is where I come from, I was raised in this constituency. My people, support my bid,” he pleaded.
Only three aspirants are still standing in the hotly contested Bungoma governor election: Wangamati (DAP-K), Lusaka (Ford-K) and Zack Barasa (UDP).
Sophie Waliaula and Peter Khakina shelved their bids.
The aspirants are set to be cleared by the IEBC in the coming days.
Lusaka, who enjoys the support of more than 35 MCAs besides Ford-K leader Wetang’ula, has intensified campaigns to woo voters.
Edited by Josephine M. Mayuya
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